Treatment Treatment for all forms of ALD consists of treating the symptoms and supporting the patient with physical therapy, psychological counseling, and special education in some cases. There is no cure for this disease, and there are no drugs that can reverse demyelination of nerve and brain cells. Dietary measures consist of reducing the intake of foods high in fat, which are a source of very long chain fatty acids. Experimental bone marrow transplantation has not been very effective. Prognosis Prognosis for childhood and neonatal ALD patients is poor because of the progressive myelin degeneration.
Death usually occurs between one and ten years after onset of symptoms.
Prevention Since ALD is a genetic disease, prevention is largely limited to genetic counseling and fetal monitoring through amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. The collection of amniotic fluid through a needle inserted through the abdomen. Used to collect fetal cells for genetic analysis. Ataxia Loss of coordination of muscular movement. Hypertonia Having excessive muscular tone.