What is the outlook for people with Batten disease?

What is the outlook for people with Batten disease?

Batten disease is a fatal disorder. Babies and children with the disorder have symptoms that get progressively worse over weeks, months or years. Eventually, they become blind and are unable to communicate, walk, sit independently and interact with others.

Each type of the disease may progress at a different rate. If a child develops symptoms around age 10, they may live until their early 20s. Younger children usually do not live more than five or six years after symptoms begin. The earlier symptoms appear, the shorter the lifespan.

People with adult Batten disease usually have more mild symptoms. Adult Batten disease does not shorten life expectancy.