3-year-old boy in England battles dementia | Health

Joey Walton is only 3 years old, but he faces an uphill battle for his life every day. Due to a rare genetic condition, he has developed dementia and according to doctors, he is unlikely to live past the age of 7. According to his mother Katie, 35, he learned to walk and talk, but he regressed and lost all abilities.

Katie, from West Yorkshire, England, says: “When he suddenly stopped improving, I contacted the doctor. In an interview the sun. “Over the next couple of months, her legs began to bend and her legs started to turn out. When we went to physio, Zoey had lost the ability to sit up, so she knew something was wrong.”

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After several tests, Joey was diagnosed with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) – a rare genetic condition that causes fatty deposits to build up in the brain, spinal cord, nerves and organs. The disease leads to a significant reduction in life expectancy and loss of physical and mental abilities.

The mother, of course, was devastated by the diagnosis. Second, she and Joey “have had a major meltdown in the past 12 months.” However, she and Joey’s father, Liam Roebuck, are trying to make the most of the time they have left with their son.

Unlike what happened to Joey, the disease can be treated if caught early. Therefore, parents are now supporting a campaign to include testing for the genetic condition in newborn screening tests performed on newborns. “If caught early, treatment is available. It’s too late for Joey, but if we can prevent even more families from going through this pain, it will be worth it.”

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