ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Tay–Sachs disease

Tay-Sachs disease is a very sad illness that affects the brain.

Inside our bodies, we have tiny things called cells which help our body work properly. These cells have important instructions that tell them what to do so that everything works the way it should.

But sometimes, there can be a mistake in these instructions. And one of these mistakes is called Tay-Sachs disease.

When a person has Tay-Sachs disease, their cells don't work properly because they don't have something called a lysosomal enzyme. This enzyme is important because it helps to break down waste in our body.

When waste builds up, it can cause problems. And this is what happens to a person with Tay-Sachs disease. The waste builds up in the brain, which stops it from working properly.

This can cause a lot of problems for a person with Tay-Sachs disease. They might have trouble moving, talking, and even thinking. Sadly, this disease can also cause blindness, deafness, and seizures.

Tay-Sachs disease is something you are born with. It's called a genetic disease, which means it's caused by genes that you get from your parents. If both of your parents have a Tay-Sachs gene, there's a chance that you might get the disease too.

Sadly, there is no cure for Tay-Sachs disease. But doctors can help manage some of the symptoms to make things easier for the person with the disease.