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Living with Autosomal recessive complex spastic paraplegia due to kennedy pathway dysfunction

A rare inherited condition with leg stiffness and delayed development that begins in infancy or early childhood.

Understanding Autosomal recessive complex spastic paraplegia due to kennedy pathway dysfunction

Autosomal recessive complex spastic paraplegia due to Kennedy pathway dysfunction is a rare genetic nerve condition with slowly worsening leg stiffness.

Onset is in infancy or early childhood. Children have delayed motor skills and slowly worsening stiffness and weakness in the legs. Intellectual disability, delayed speech, and unclear speech vary. Other features reported include small head size, seizures, and eye differences. Brain scans show changes in the white matter.

Signs & symptoms

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

  • Slowly worsening leg stiffness and weakness
  • Delayed motor skills
  • Small head size (microcephaly)
  • Overactive reflexes in the legs
  • Cleft palate or split uvula
  • Seizures

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 and genetic specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in SELENOI are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    Spastic Paraplegia Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Expert lists: Spastic Paraplegia Foundation
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 Spastic Paraplegia 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
Can genetic testing for the SELENOI gene confirm the diagnosis?
Which therapies might help with walking and stiffness?
Should my child's vision and speech be checked?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startInfant and as a Child
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesSELENOI

It is caused by changes in the SELENOI gene. It is autosomal recessive, so a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent.

GeneticNeurologicalInherited Metabolic

Also known as: autosomal recessive complex spg due to kennedy pathway dysfunction

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Autosomal recessive complex spastic paraplegia due to kennedy pathway dysfunctionGARD ID 17946 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

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Perspectives from people navigating life with Autosomal recessive complex spastic paraplegia due to kennedy pathway dysfunction.

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