What are the forms of ALD?

What are the forms of ALD?

The most common forms of ALD are:

• Childhood cerebral ALD: Boys with this form of ALD usually start showing neurological symptoms between ages 3 and 10. As infants, these children develop typically. Then they begin to regress, losing skills. Children often display behavioral problems, such as having difficulty paying attention in school. They may also have seizures. Children with this type typically pass away within a few years of developing symptoms.
• ALD plus Addison’s disease: Along with neurological symptoms, ALD may cause adrenal insufficiency, or Addison’s disease. This condition means your adrenal glands don’t make enough of the hormone cortisol. Symptoms include decreased appetite and muscle weakness.
• Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) or adult-onset ALD: This milder form of ALD begins between ages 21 and 35. People with AMN have both adrenal and neurological problems. Adult-onset ALD progresses more slowly than childhood cerebral ALD, but adults can also have deteriorating brain function. Other symptoms include leg stiffness and pain in the hands and feet.

Less-common types of ALD include:

• Adrenal insufficiency-only ALD: Some people have only Addison’s disease, without any neurological problems. About 1 in 10 people with ALD have this type.
• Adult cerebral ALD: About 1 in 5 affected adult males develop cognitive problems similar to childhood cerebral ALD. Over time, they lose most of their mental and neurological function. Many adults with this type eventually pass away from the disease.
• Females with ALD: By age 40, about 1 in 5 women who are ALD carriers have symptoms, but 90% have symptoms by age 60. Symptoms generally less severe, such as mild weakness and stiffness in their legs.