Last Updated on December 22, 2024 by Analgesia team
ALD Medical Abbreviation
ALD is a medical abbreviation for adrenoleukodystrophy, a rare genetic condition that affects the nervous system and adrenal glands:
- Symptoms
ALD symptoms include dizziness, vision and hearing problems, coordination difficulties, stiffness, weakness, and loss of physical and mental skills. Symptoms can begin between the ages of 4 and 10, but can also present much later in life.
- Causes
ALD is caused by mutations in the ABCD1 gene that prevent the body from breaking down very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). These fatty acids build up in the brain, nervous system, and adrenal glands, causing inflammation and damaging the myelin sheath that covers nerve cells.
- Inheritance
ALD is an X-linked recessive disorder, which means that only boys are affected and the mother may be a carrier of the disease. Females who carry the faulty gene for ALD can develop symptoms in adulthood.
- Treatment
There is no cure for ALD, but stem cell transplantation may stop the progression of the disease if done when neurological symptoms first appear. Doctors will focus on relieving symptoms and slowing disease progression.