Friedreichs Ataxia

1
Friedreichs Ataxia
Killer Gene

• Presented by
• Rebecca Moberly
• For a CIS 126 class presentation
• in 1999 at Joliet Junior College.

2
What is Friedreichs Ataxia?

• It is a rare disease
• It is inherited
• It is progressive
• It is genetic
• It is incurable

3
What are the major symptoms?

• Difficulty with balance
• Impaired coordination of legs and arms
• Slurred speech
• Weakness and loss of muscle bulk in the legs and
  hands
• Curvature of the spine
• Enlargement of the heart other heart problems

4
What other symptoms may occur?

• Hearing loss
• Vision loss
• Jerky eye movements
• Loss of urinary control
• Diabetes
• Choking from swallowing
• Respiratory infections

5
How do you get it?

• You inherit it from your parents
• Both parents must have the gene
• Half of their children may be carriers
• A fourth of their children may be afflicted
• Carriers display no symptoms
• Carriers can pass the altered gene on to their
  children

6
The Family Tree
Mom
Dad
Child
7
Statistics

• One out of 52,000 people have the disorder
• One out of 100 people are carriers
• Approximately 122 people at JJC are carriers

Are you one of them?
8
In The Final Phase

• You are unable to walk
• You are unable to talk
• You are unable to feed yourself
• You can hardly breath
• You are trapped in a body that doesnt work

9
Can it happen to you?

• Yes!
• It may be too late
• for my sister Ann,
• but not for countless
• others like her.

10
What can you do to help?

• Support the foundations who do research
• National Ataxia Foundation
• For more information
• http//www.ataxia.org/
• http//www.fortnet.org/fapg/faq.htm
• http//www.faa.org.au/whatis.htm

11
Get Involved Before Its Too Late For Someone You
Love

• Stop this disease now!