Web Content Display

Niemann-Pick Type C: Childhood Alzheimer's

Web Content Display

Mind

People with Niemann-Pick Type C may exhibit an inability to focus, forgetfulness, learning difficulties in school, slurred speech and loss of speech, as well as depression and even hallucinations.

Body

Niemann-Pick Type C's effect on the brain can cause a range of physical symptoms - enlarged spleen or liver, abnormal eye movements, trouble swallowing, difficulty walking, loss of muscle tone, the inability to control voluntary movements, poor balance, loss of coordination, and seizures.

Web Content Display

Early Death

Niemann-Pick Type C is always fatal. The earlier the onset of the disease, the shorter the life expectancy of the child.

Web Content Display

1 out of 150,000

Web Content Display

Genetic

Niemann-Pick Type C is a genetically inherited disease. When two NPC carriers have children, each child has a 25% chance of developing NPC.

Difficult to Diagnose

Most doctors have never heard of Niemann-Pick Type C due to its extreme rarity; NPC's broad range of often-subtle, unfamiliar symptoms can lead to misdiagnosis or no diagnosis at all. The first symptom of NPC is an enlarged spleen and/or liver; talk to your doctor about NPC if your child has these symptoms.

Web Content Display

But there is hope.

Web Content Display

Cyclodextrin

While cyclodextrin is not a cure for NPC, a growing number of families and doctors have witnessed its effectiveness in slowing down and even reversing the progression of the disease. Learn more about how to get started on cyclodextrin.