Skip to content
knowrare
HealthSignal
Your condition community

Living with Alopecia - intellectual disability syndrome

An extremely rare genetic condition with total or partial hair loss and intellectual disability.

Understanding Alopecia - intellectual disability syndrome

Alopecia - intellectual disability syndrome is an extremely rare genetic condition with hair loss and intellectual disability.

GARD says it has been described in fewer than 20 families. It can come with other differences, such as seizures, hearing loss from nerve damage, delayed development, and stiff muscles. It is noticed in newborns.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Hair loss (alopecia)
  • Missing or thin eyebrows
  • Small head size (microcephaly)
  • Hearing loss
  • Sensitivity of the eyes to light (photophobia)
  • Slow growth

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists, genetic specialists and skin, hair, and nail specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Skin, hair, and nail specialists (dermatologists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Children's Skin Disease Foundation
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Is genetic testing available for our family?
How often should hearing be checked?
Which specialists should be on the care team?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive

GARD lists autosomal recessive inheritance, so a child inherits a changed copy of a gene from each parent. It doesn't name a gene.

GeneticNeurologicalSkin

Also known as: alopecia and intellectual disability syndrome; alopecia-intellectual disability syndrome; perniola krajewska carnevale syndrome; perniola-krajewska-carnevale syndrome

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Alopecia - intellectual disability syndromeGARD ID 612 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Alopecia - intellectual disability syndrome.

Explore the Alopecia - intellectual disability syndrome blog

Explore research for Alopecia - intellectual disability syndrome

Explore actively recruiting Alopecia - intellectual disability syndrome studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Alopecia - intellectual disability syndrome with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper

I can help you find recruiting Alopecia - intellectual disability syndrome studies. Enter a ZIP code, address or city below and I'll look within 50 miles.

Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

Get Signals for Alopecia - intellectual disability syndrome

Stay in the loop with community stories and updates from medical researchers.

HealthStoryfor Alopecia - intellectual disability syndrome

Create a living journal that talks back

HealthStory evolves private journaling with a living AI journal that talks back and asks thoughtful questions, helping you capture your Alopecia - intellectual disability syndrome experiences more deeply and prepare for better conversations with your doctors and care team.

Start your journal

Your journal is private. Sharing your story publicly is a separate choice, made with Share your story above.