Signs & Symptoms of Leigh's Disease

Leigh's disease is an inherited neurometabolic disease that usually affects children between 3 months and 2 years of age. In rare cases, Leigh's disease can affected adults. Leigh's disease, also known as Leigh's syndrome, is most often inherited through the recessive gene. Unfortunately, it can extremely difficult to confirm diagnosis without an MRI.

Neurological Symptoms

• Some of the first symptoms often noted in an affected patient can include various neurological signs such as loss of control over head movements or issues with motor skills.

Changes in Behavior

• Many patients may explain a change in behavior such as irritability or a loss of appetite. There may also be unexplained seizures.

Weakness

• As Leigh's disease progresses, many patients begin to lose their muscle tone. They will also experience an overall weakness of the body.

Clincal Signs

• An MRI will reveal dying or already dead pockets of tissue, or lesions, on the brain. These lesions usually occur on the brainstem or in the midbrain.

Prognosis

• For those who display symptoms early on, the prognosis is extremely poor. Some may only live a few months to a few years. Adults affected by Leigh's disease often live significantly longer than patients who are diagnosed during infancy.