Leukodystrophy and CDD
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) covers a wide array of different neurodevelopmental disorders. Coined in 2013, the term covers many different disorders that were at one time treated completely separately from each other.
Asperger’s syndrome and autism are two of the most well-known disorders wrapped under the ASD umbrella. Another one that doesn’t get as much recognition is known as childhood disintegrative disorder.
More commonly known as CDD, this used to be listed under pervasive developmental disorders. That changed in 2013, when the American Psychiatric Association coined the ASD moniker.
The disorder is associated with children losing abilities after they already had mastered them. Like other forms of ASD, there’s no single cause of it, though it’s believed that there is a link between leukodystrophy and the development of CDD.
Below, we’ll discuss the two disorders in more depth and examine the link between the two.
Table Of Contents
What is CDD?
Also known as Heller’s syndrome, CDD very rare, as it affects only about one to two out of 100,000 children. It is characterized by children developing typically until they reach at least 2 years old in many of the major developmental milestone areas — including nonverbal and verbal communication, play, adaptive behavior and social relationships.
Then, sometimes inexplicably, the child starts to lose the ability to perform certain skills that they already acquired. This usually starts between 3 and 4 years old, and can progress gradually or rapidly.
CDD is defined as losing skills this way in at least two areas including social skills, plays, motor skills, adaptive behavior, receptive or expressive language, and bowel or bladder control.
Children who suffer from CDD face many of the same struggles that children with autism do, such as challenges with communication, social interactions and repetitive behaviors.
What is Leukodystrophy?
Leukodystrophy is actually a group of genetic disorders that are very rare. They affect the brain’s white matter, and is characterized by abnormal growth in this part of the brain.
The diseases are known to affect the myelin sheath in the brain, which serves to insulate both the spinal cord and nerve fibers. Damage to this area of the brain either blocks or slows down messages that are sent from the brain to parts of the body.
As such, this can cause issues with physical and mental development, hearing, vision, speaking and other movements.
Many leukodystrophies are considered neuro-degenerative. If they aren’t treated, they can progress and cause additional damage to the brain’s white matter, which comes with worsening symptoms.
At present, there are roughly 30 leukodystrophies that have been classified, including Canavan disease, Krabbe disease, Niemann-Pick disease, Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) and Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD).
What is the Link Between Leukodystrophy and CDD?
As mentioned before, no one single cause of CDD has been identified, just as there hasn’t been for ASD as a whole. That being said, there are some links between CDD and other diseases that have been identified, especially if the CDD symptoms start later on in childhood.
Leukodystrophy is one of those identified causes. When the white matter in the brain gets damaged, other functions that the brain controls get affected — sometimes significantly.
If a child has leukodystrophy, then, they can regress in their development, losing skills that had previously acquired — which is a hallmark of CDD. They may also decline cognitively, and have issues with motor skills, including new onset issues with things such as walking.
While the symptoms that a child will experience from leukodystrophy can vary, they can line up with those of CDD.
Many leukodystrophies are genetic, with many being passed from one generation to the next. Some happen because of sporadic mutations of genes, which means that while they are genetic in nature, they are hereditary.
Because of the nature of this disease, they can be detected through genetic testing and MRIs — which could provide medical insight into a link between leukodystrophies and CDD.
How Are They Treated?
There is no cure for either leukodystrophy or CDD. Instead of trying to treat the actual disease, then, the way to approach it is to treat the symptoms.
The gold standard in doing so is applied behavioral analysis, or ABA therapy. This science- and evidence-based approach to learning and behavior has been widely accepted as the leading treatment for children with any form of ASD, including CDD that is caused by leukodystrophy.
ABA therapists work one-on-one with patients to help them build the social, communication and daily life skills with which they often struggle. Using repetition and positive reinforcement, they help to modify patients’ behaviors over time.
Blue Gems ABA Administers Best-in-Class ABA Therapy
There is a direct link between leukodystrophy and CDD, though not all children who have CDD also have leukodystrophy — and vice versa. That being said, the best treatment plan for both is ABA therapy.
At Blue Gems ABA, our team of experienced BCBAs are dedicated to administering this best-in-class treatment so children on the autism spectrum can live happy and fulfilling lives.
To learn more, please contact us today.
617-297-7998
617-340-3371
info@bluegemsaba.com
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