ALD (Adrenoleukodystrophy) is a rare genetic disorder that mainly affects infant boys, but can also affect adult males. It is caused by a mutation in the X-linked ABCD1 gene. This gene codes for an enzyme that breaks down long chain fatty acids in the body. When there is a mutation in this gene, these fatty acids build up and cause damage to the myelin sheath of nerves throughout the body, which results in severe neurological problems ranging from mild learning disabilities to complete paralysis and death.

The most common clinical symptom of ALD in infants is progressive weakened muscle tone with weakness of limbs especially lower extremities such as legs and feet. Other signs include hearing loss, vision impairment, seizures, behavioral changes or difficulty speaking or understanding speech. In some cases it may even lead to coma or death if not properly treated quickly enough. The exact causes of these symptoms are unknown but experts believe they are due to damage done to nerve cells and brain structure by high levels of saturated fats called VLCFAs (very long chain fatty acids). These are toxic for nerve cells leading to their destruction over time which eventually leads to significant deterioration in motor skills and cognitive functions including language comprehension and verbal expression, learning ability as well as memory recall capabilities