Are there people with adrenoleukodystrophy who live to old age?
Disease description:
My son is eight years old. Recently, he has experienced declining vision and unsteady walking. After a hospital examination, he was preliminarily diagnosed with adrenoleukodystrophy. Could you please tell me if people with this condition can live to old age?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Lei
Adrenal insufficiency does not affect life expectancy when properly managed. However, if the condition progresses without control, deterioration to death generally occurs within 9 years. Once the disease worsens, treatment becomes more difficult. Long-term oral prednisone use allows patients to live for decades with minimal impact on quality of life. However, in cases of adrenal cancer or pituitary tumors causing adrenal dysfunction, survival can range from several years to over 10 years.
