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Living with Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 10

A type of NCL (CLN10) that usually starts soon after birth, with muscle stiffness, breathing problems, and seizures.

Understanding Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 10

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 10 (CLN10 disease) is a type of NCL, a group of serious conditions that affect the nervous system.

Signs usually appear soon after birth and can include muscle stiffness, breathing problems, and seizures lasting several minutes. Infants have a small brain and head and trouble controlling movements. In some people, symptoms start later in infancy, childhood, or adulthood, and are more gradual, such as poor coordination, loss of speech and vision, and memory and thinking problems.

Signs & symptoms

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

  • Small head (microcephaly)
  • Seizures
  • Muscle stiffness (spasticity)
  • Poor coordination (ataxia)
  • Vision loss from retina changes
  • Loss of skills and memory

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, eye disease specialists, genetic specialists and seizure and epilepsy specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in CTSD 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

    BDSRA Foundation and Epilepsy Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Eye disease specialists (ophthalmologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Seizure and epilepsy specialists (epileptologist)
Expert care
Expert lists: BDSRA Foundation, Epilepsy 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 BDSRA Foundation and other patient organizations
  • 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
Should we have genetic testing for the CTSD gene?
Which treatments can help with seizures and stiffness?
Which specialists should be on my care team?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually starta variety of ages
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesCTSD

CLN10 disease is caused by changes in the CTSD gene. A child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent (autosomal recessive).

GeneticNeurologicalInherited MetabolicLysosomal Storage

Also known as: cathepsin d deficiency; cathepsin d deficient neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis; ceroid lipofuscinosis, neuronal, type 10; cln10; cln10 disease; cln10-ncl

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 10GARD ID 1218 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

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