How Is Moebius Syndrome Passed?

What is Moebius Syndrome?

Moebius syndrome, also known as Mobius syndrome, is a neurological disorder that is rare and effects children from birth. Children and adults with Moebius syndrome are unable to move their eyes from side-to-side and have difficulty blinking, smiling, frowning, sucking, and grimacing. Other symptoms present in people who have Moebius syndrome include speech disorders, sleep disorders, problems swallowing, respiratory problems, visual impairments, sensory integration dysfunction and weak upper-body strength, lack of facial expression, feeding and choking problems, eye sensitivity, delays in motor skills, crossed eyes (also called strabismus), drooling, deformed tongue, cleft palate, limited tongue movement, hearing problems, speech disorders, clubbed feet, and hand deformities. If you think your child may have Moebius syndrome, take him to the doctor as soon as possible for an examination.

The Chemistry Behind Moebius Syndrome

Moebius syndrome effects the 6th and 7th cranial nerves, which diminishes the ability for patients to move their faces and eyes. Although some sufferers of Moebius syndrome only have these cranial nerve disorders, other cranial nerves that may be effected include the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th, and 12th nerves. If the 8th cranial nerve is effected, the patient will likely suffer from hearing loss. Although there are surgical procedures to make the facial muscles more usable for the Moebius patient, there is currently no cure for Moebius syndrome.

Is Moebius Syndrome Hereditary?

Because Moebius syndrome is a condition that effects the brain, there are constant studies trying to determine whether or not Moebius syndrome is genetic or hereditary. According to the Department of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town Medical School in South Africa, a link has been discovered between the absence of chromosome 13 and some Moebius syndrome sufferers in South Africa, which may prove the disease is a genetic disorder. However, because Moebius is a very rare disease, it has been difficult for doctors to find a common link between all Moebius syndrome patients. As of 2009, no official claims have been made whether or not the disease is hereditary or genetic, and the passing of Moebius syndrome is considered to be random. It is, however, proven that Moebius syndrome is not contagious, and it is always present at birth.

Resources

• MoebiusSyndrome.com: Moebius Syndrome