What Is Tay-Sachs Disease?

Tay-Sachs disease is a fatal inherited disease of the central nervous system. The most common type of the disease affects babies. Affected babies appear healthy at birth and seem to develop normally for the first few months of life. After this time, development slows and symptoms begin. Sadly, there is no effective treatment for these babies. Babies with Tay-Sachs lack an enzyme protein called hexosaminidase a hex A needed for breaking down certain fatty substances in brain and nerve cells. …