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Living with Infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis

A rare brain disease in which babies lose movement and thinking skills starting around 6 months.

Understanding Infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis

Infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL) is a rare disease that affects the brain.

It usually starts when babies are around 6 months old and causes them to quickly lose their ability to move and think. They won't be able to do things like crawl, walk, or talk.

Signs & symptoms

GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition yet. Its summary describes:

  • Loss of movement skills
  • Loss of thinking skills
  • Not able to crawl, walk, or talk

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 genetic specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

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

Care & treatment

Care team
Genetic specialists (geneticists)
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 Brain 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
Which tests confirm INCL?
Can genetic testing tell us more about the cause?
Which therapies and support are available for my child?

Quick facts

GARD doesn't describe a cause for this condition yet.

GeneticLysosomal Storage

Also known as: classic infantile cln1 disease; hagberg-santavouri type neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis; hagberg-santavuori disease; haltia-santavouri type neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis; incl; infantile ncl

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosisGARD ID 9447 · 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 Infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.

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