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Living with Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 3

A type of NCL (CLN3) with quickly worsening vision loss, loss of skills, seizures, and behavior changes.

Understanding Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 3

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 3 (CLN3-NCL) is a rare condition that affects the nervous system.

Symptoms may include vision loss that worsens quickly, loss of skills already gained, memory and thinking decline, heart problems, seizures, speech problems, behavior changes including aggression, and movement problems. GARD lists onset in infancy.

Signs & symptoms

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

  • Vision loss that gets worse quickly
  • Seizures
  • Loss of skills (psychomotor deterioration)
  • Parkinson-like movement problems
  • Loss of ability to walk
  • Memory and thinking decline (dementia)

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 CLN3 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, Beyond Batten Disease 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, Beyond Batten Disease 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 CLN3 gene?
How should vision, seizures, and heart health be monitored?
Which supports can help with learning and behavior?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startInfant
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesCLN3

CLN3-NCL is caused by changes in the CLN3 gene. A child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent (autosomal recessive).

GeneticNeurologicalInherited MetabolicLysosomal Storage

Also known as: amaurotic idiocy juvenile type; amaurotic idiocy, juvenile type; batten-mayou disease; batten-mayou syndrome; batten-spielmeyer-vogt disease; cerebral lipidosis myoclonic variant

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 3GARD ID 5897 · 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

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