Symptoms generally begin to be noticed at about 40 or 50 years of age, although cases from the ages of 15 up to 59 have been described. The majority of males also show some breast enlargement, and reduced fertility has been reported in some cases. Kennedy's disease is inherited, and is passed on from mother to son, by an X-linked genetic mutation. How this mutation causes the symptoms seen in Kennedy's disease is not yet understood. Kennedy's disease can be diagnosed by genetic testing using a sample of whole blood.
Testing is done only after appropriate genetic counselling has been undertaken.
There is as yet no treatment to cure Kennedy's disease or to stop its progression. The severity and course of the disease cannot be predicted, but in most cases, progression is extremely slow, and life expectancy is normal. Support in coping with the effects of the disease is available through the MND Associations in each State, and research is being undertaken which gives hope for the future. Other fact sheets, including Genes and Chromosomes, Genetic Counselling, Prenatal Diagnosis, and Drawing up your Family Health Tree, are available from the Genetics Education Program of NSW , P O Box 317, St Leonards, NSW 2065. Choi WT, Zajac JD et al.