Batten Disease

BATTEN DISEASE IS a rare but fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects children and for which no treatment exists, other than possible future stem cell research treatments. The disease is named after the British physician Frederick Batten, who first identified and described the condition in 1903. It is also known as Spielmeyer—Vogt—Sjogren—Batten disease.

Batten disease manifests itself in children somewhere between the ages of 4 and 10 years. Early signs might include vision impairment, poor circulation, hyperventilation, reduced communicative ability, and behavioral changes. As a neurodegen—erative disease, Batten disease causes the patient to progressively lose motor skills, communication skills, and brain functions. The results are distressing not just to the patients concerned but also to their carers. The disease is one of a set of conditions known ...