Aspartylglycosaminuria

Aspartylglycosaminuria is a very rare lysosomal storage disease that causes a progressive decline in mental functioning. Infants with aspartylglycosaminuria appear healthy at birth with signs and symptoms beginning around the age of 2 or 3. Major symptoms may include coarse facial features, spine and eye deformities, behavior problems, and intellectual disability.  Symptoms result from a deficiency in an enzyme called aspartylglycosaminidase, which leads to an accumulation of a protein called glycoasparagine in the body tissues and  increased excretion of this protein in the urine. Aspartylglycosaminuria is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion and caused by mutations in the AGA gene. It is commonly seen in individuals of Finnish decent.