Tay-Sachs disease

American  

[tey-saks] / ˈteɪˈsæks /

noun

Pathology.

1. a rare fatal hereditary disease, occurring chiefly in infants and children, especially of eastern European Jewish origin, characterized by a red spot on the retina, gradual blindness, and paralysis.

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Tay-Sachs disease British  

/ ˌteɪˈsæks /

noun

1. an inherited disorder, caused by a faulty recessive gene, in which lipids accumulate in the brain, leading to mental retardation and blindness. It occurs mostly in Ashkenazi Jews

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Tay-Sachs disease Scientific  

/ tā′săks′ /

1. A genetic disease in which the products of fat metabolism accumulate in the nervous system, causing retardation, paralysis, and death by preschool age. Individuals of eastern European Jewish descent have a higher risk of inheriting Tay-Sachs disease. The disease is named after its describers, British ophthalmologist Warren Tay (1843–1927) and American neurologist Bernard Sachs (1858–1944).

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Etymology

Origin of Tay-Sachs disease

1920–25; named after W. Tay (1843–1927), English physician, and B. Sachs (1858–1944), American neurologist

Example Sentences

Tay-Sachs disease, the more common of the two disorders, typically manifests within the first year of life, progressing quickly and often proving fatal within a few years.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2024

A child with Tay-Sachs disease can appear radiantly healthy as a newborn but begins an inexorable decline by six months.

From Scientific American • Jul. 18, 2022

Druyor also discovered that she is a carrier for Tay-Sachs disease, a rare and severe genetic disorder more common in people with Eastern European Jewish heritage.

From Washington Post • Nov. 19, 2020

Another son, Eric, died at 2 of Tay-Sachs disease, a recessive genetic disorder prevalent among Ashkenazi Jews.

From New York Times • Apr. 5, 2015

Rapp’s memoir tells the story of mothering a child with Tay-Sachs disease.

From Salon • May 7, 2013