About MJD

MACHADO JOSEPH DISEASE

Machado-Joseph Disease is a genetic disorder of the central nervous system that cripples and paralyzes. Symptoms appear when a defective gene causes a breakdown and there is a loss of cells in specific areas of the brain.

In 1994 a Japanese research team reported isolating and cloning the MJD gene. As a result a genetic marker for MJD is available for those persons at-risk or those who suspect they may be affected with this disorder.

Today, Machado-Joseph disease is also known as Spino-cerebellar Ataxia, Type 3,or SCA/3, a common hereditary ataxia.

Unfortunately, Machado-Joseph Disease has been known to be missed diagnosed as Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington's disease and other forms of neurological disorders.

There is no known cure for MJD at this time.