• Deafness
• Decreased eye contact, blindness
• Decreased muscle tone (loss of muscle strength)
• Delayed mental and social skills
• Dementia
• Increased startle reaction
• Irritability
• Listlessness
• Loss of motor skills
• Paralysis or loss of muscle function
• Seizures
• Slow growth

If Tay-Sachs disease is suspected, the doctor will perform aphysical examination and take a family history. Additional tests may include:

• Enzyme analysis of blood or body tissue for hexosaminidase levels
• Eye examination (reveals a cherry-red spot in the macula)

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Tay Overview

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Tay Treatment

Review Date: 11/17/2010
Reviewed By: Kevin Sheth, MD, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)