Nine-year-old Perth boy communicates by blinking after childhood dementia
Ezraine Aung, now nine, was diagnosed with childhood dementia at five and can now only communicate by blinking.
Ezraine Aung was a normal, active five-year-old until May 2023 when he said his mum's face looked blurry. Brain scans revealed childhood dementia caused by the genetic disorder X-ALD.
Within weeks he lost his sight, speech and the ability to walk or eat. Now nine, he communicates only by blinking, one slow blink for no, many for yes.
His family uses a book of letters he selects by blinking. Telethon funding supports WA scientists researching childhood dementia, including work developing cell lines to test new treatments like gene therapy.
Researchers say childhood dementia progresses much faster than adult forms, leaving sufferers severely disabled within years.
- Five years old
- Age at diagnosis
- May 2023
- Onset month
- Nine years old
- Current age
- X-ALD
- Genetic disorder
Why it mattersChildhood dementia is rare and under-researched, yet most sufferers do not reach adulthood without treatment; Telethon funding is helping unlock potential cures.
AustraliaWA researchers are building the tools to test new treatments that could transform outcomes for Australian children diagnosed with childhood dementia.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
