Disability Medical Condition: Niemann-Pick Disease (NPD) – Type A
Niemann-Pick Disease Type A is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects infants. Babies with this condition will have issues with feeding and will have a noticeable distended abdomen as a result of an expanded spleen and liver. It eventually results in complete loss of motor and mental abilities. NPD is fatal, with most children diagnosed with the condition dying between ages 2 and 5. No treatment is currently available. There are at least 1,200 diagnosed with the disorder; two-thirds of these individuals are of Ashkenazi Jewish decent. NPD is inherited from two parents who are carriers of the NPD gene. NPD affects both male and female infants.
The disease is listed as one of the medical conditions in the Compassionate Allowances Program. The program expedites the application process so that individuals with severe medical conditions can apply for disability benefits quickly.
Under the Compassionate Allowances program, those suffering from certain medical conditions and impairments will have their application processed quickly through the “fast track” program which helps administrators rapidly identify and process medical conditions on the program’s list of medical impairments.