Health encyclopaedia

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Prevention of Tay-Sachs disease

Unfortunately, there is no treatment for Tay-Sachs disease, so it is very important for carriers or possible carriers to have genetic counselling. Carrier status can be found by a blood test.

Antenatal diagnosis (testing before birth) by Chorionic villus sampling can be done. If the diagnosis is confirmed, termination of pregnancy can be offered.

Some Jewish communities have successfully organised pre-marital counselling services and testing in the hope of preventing the occurrence of this disorder. As a result, the incidence of Tay-Sachs disease dropped by 80 per cent between 1970 and 1980.

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