10 Fun Facts About Incurable Illnesses

Which neurodegenerative disorder accounts for around 60 to 70 percent of dementia cases?

The strongest genetic risk factor is a variant of apolipoprotein E, a protein involved in fat metabolism; a definitive diagnosis is still only possible by examining brain tissue after death.

Which autoimmune disorder attacks the wrists and hands symmetrically on both sides?

Unlike wear-and-tear arthritis, the pain and stiffness typically get worse after rest rather than after activity.

Which long-term inflammatory airway disease causes recurring wheezing and chest tightness?

Aspirin and beta blockers are among the medications that can trigger an attack in susceptible people.

Which autoimmune condition destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas?

Because no insulin is produced, blood sugar cannot be stored or converted into energy, and symptoms such as constant thirst and frequent urination usually appear within weeks.

Which autosomal recessive disorder is diagnosed with a sweat test because sufferers have unusually salty sweat?

A faulty CFTR protein turns normally thin secretions thick, clogging the lungs and inviting bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa to colonise them.

Which retrovirus can progress, untreated, to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome?

A person on long-term treatment with an undetectable viral load has effectively no risk of passing it on sexually, a message campaigns summarise as Undetectable = Untransmittable.

Which condition is caused by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra?

Non-motor signs such as a fading sense of smell and sleep disturbances can appear years before the familiar tremor.

Which widespread-pain condition, affecting 2 to 4 percent of people, was only formally defined in 1990?

Its causes remain unknown, and women are affected at a higher rate than men.

Which inflammatory bowel disorder can affect any part of the GI tract and raises colorectal cancer risk?

Despite being immune-related, it does not appear to be a true autoimmune disease; the immune system seems to be targeting gut microbes rather than the body itself.

In which autoimmune disease does the immune system attack myelin, causing double vision and poor coordination?

It is classed as a demyelinating disease because the damage disrupts the nervous system's ability to transmit signals.