Save Babies Through Screening Foundation UK, A Resource on Newborn Screening

Patron Jason Manford       

 
What is Leukodystrophy?

 

Leukodystrophy refers to a group of disorders characterized by progressive degeneration of the white matter of the brain. The leukodystrophies are caused by imperfect growth or development of the myelin sheath, the fatty covering that acts as an insulator around nerve fibres. Myelin, which the white matter of the brain takes its colour from, is a complex substance made up of at least ten different chemicals. Each of the leukodystrophies is the result of a defect in the gene that controls the production or metabolism of one (and only one) of the component molecules of myelin. The loss of myelin is called 'Demyelination'.

 

The word leukodystrophy comes from the Greek roots leuko, white, dys, lack of, and troph, growth. Thus leukodystrophy describes a set of diseases that affect the growth or maintenance of the white matter.

 

Leukodystrophies are mostly inherited disorders, meaning that it is passed on from parent to child. They may be inherited in a recessive, dominant, or X-linked manner, depending on the type of leukodystrophy.

 

There are some leukodystrophies that do not appear to be inherited, but rather arise spontaneously. They are still caused by a mutation in a particular gene, but it just means that the mutation was not inherited. In this case, the birth of one child with the disease does not necessarily increase the likelihood of a second child having the disease.

 

What is Krabbes Disease?

 

 

 

 

 

Latest news

 

17/05/2013: Our Spring newsletter is out now! You can download it by clicking [here]

17/05/2013: Please support Nicola Balfour's fundraising efforts in the Prudential Ride London to Surrey 100 on August 4th 2013. Visit her Just Giving page [here]

08/04/2013: Zumbathon Fun Day, June 2nd 2013, The Birdbrook Tavern, Sturmer Road, CO9 4BB. Please join us and help raise money for SBUK. More details [here]

22/03/2013: Please support Team PP in the Great South Run on October 27th 2013, in memory of Miss Phoebe May Knibbs, who lost her life to Krabbes disease on February 23rd 2013. Visit the Just Giving page [here]

23/10/2012: Please support 12 year old Seth Morris in his fight for Newborn Screening. Click for more...

12/10/2012: Pat Roberts has contributed to an article published this month in the Journal of Community Genetics: Screening criteria: the need to deal with new developments and ethical issues in newborn metabolic screening. Alternatively read at the Journal of Community Genetics website here.

06/07/2012: Save Babies UK welcomes the DoH announcement to introduce a pilot for screening newborns for a further five disorders from July 2012. However this is too little and too late. The pilot will only cover 60% of babies born in the UK from July 2012. Almost as many children with diseases that could have been diagnosed and treated will go undetected, as those that the DoH say will be saved. Read more...

30/03/2012: Read more about the Saving of Lives Through Newborn Screening Celebratory Event,  Westminster 25th April 2012  [here]

  

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