| A rare neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis characterized by motor, cognitive and developmental regression with speech impairment, ataxia, limb weakness, visual impairment (notably retinitis pigmentosa), dysarthria and prosopagnosia. It may present with congenital (the most commonly observed form of the disease), late infantile (3 years) and juvenile-onset (4-8 years), and later stages into adulthood. Congenital form is associated with immediate postnatal onset of epileptic seizures, respiratory failure and limb hypertonia. Neonates have microcephaly with severe atrophy of the cerebrum and cerebellum with myelin deficiency, and retinal dysfunction. |