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Description
Deafness-dystonia-optic neuronopathy (DDON) syndrome, also known as Mohr-Tranebjærg syndrome, is characterized by hearing loss that begins early in life, problems with movement, impaired vision, and behavior problems. This condition occurs almost exclusively in males.
The first symptom of DDON syndrome is hearing loss caused by nerve damage in the inner ear (sensorineural hearing loss), which begins in early childhood. The hearing impairment worsens over time, and most affected individuals have profound hearing loss by age 10.
People with DDON syndrome typically begin to develop problems with movement during their teens, although the onset of these symptoms varies among affected individuals. Some people experience involuntary tensing of the muscles (dystonia), while others have difficulty coordinating movements (ataxia). The problems with movement usually worsen over time.
Individuals with DDON syndrome have normal vision during childhood, but they may develop vision problems due to breakdown of the nerves that carry information from the eyes to the brain (optic atrophy). Affected individuals can develop an increased sensitivity to light (photophobia) or other vision problems beginning in adolescence. Their sharpness of vision (visual acuity) slowly worsens, often leading to legal blindness in mid-adulthood.
People with this condition may also have behavior problems, including changes in personality and aggressive or paranoid behaviors. They also usually develop a gradual decline in thinking and reasoning abilities (dementia) in their forties. The lifespan of individuals with DDON syndrome depends on the severity of the disorder. People with severe cases have survived into their teenage years, while those with milder cases have lived into their sixties.
Frequency
DDON syndrome is a rare disorder; it has been reported in fewer than 70 people worldwide.
Causes
Mutations in the TIMM8A gene cause DDON syndrome. The protein produced from this gene is found inside the energy-producing centers of cells (mitochondria). The TIMM8A protein forms a complex (a group of proteins that work together) with a very similar protein called TIMM13. This complex functions by transporting other proteins within the mitochondria.
Most mutations in the TIMM8A gene result in the absence of functional TIMM8A protein inside the mitochondria, which prevents the formation of the TIMM8A/TIMM13 complex. Researchers believe that the lack of this complex leads to abnormal protein transport, although it is unclear how abnormal protein transport affects the function of the mitochondria and causes the signs and symptoms of DDON syndrome.
Inheritance
DDON syndrome is inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern. The gene associated with this condition is located on the X chromosome, which is one of the two sex chromosomes. In males (who have only one X chromosome), one altered copy of the gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the condition. In females (who have two X chromosomes), a mutation would have to occur in both copies of the gene to cause DDON syndrome. Because it is unlikely that females will have two altered copies of this gene, males are affected by X-linked recessive disorders much more frequently than females. Females who carry one altered copy of the TIMM8A gene are typically unaffected; however, they may develop mild hearing loss and dystonia. A characteristic of X-linked inheritance is that fathers cannot pass X-linked traits to their sons.
Other Names for This Condition
- Deafness syndrome, progressive, with blindness, dystonia, fractures, and mental deficiency
- Deafness-dystonia-optic atrophy syndrome
- Jensen syndrome
- Mohr-Tranebjærg syndrome
- Opticoacoustic nerve atrophy with dementia
Additional Information & Resources
Genetic Testing Information
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
Patient Support and Advocacy Resources
Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM
Scientific Articles on PubMed
References
- Bahmad F Jr, Merchant SN, Nadol JB Jr, Tranebjaerg L. Otopathology in Mohr-Tranebjaerg syndrome. Laryngoscope. 2007 Jul;117(7):1202-8. doi: 10.1097/MLG.0b013e3180581944. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
- Binder J, Hofmann S, Kreisel S, Wohrle JC, Bazner H, Krauss JK, Hennerici MG, Bauer MF. Clinical and molecular findings in a patient with a novel mutation in the deafness-dystonia peptide (DDP1) gene. Brain. 2003 Aug;126(Pt 8):1814-20. doi: 10.1093/brain/awg174. Epub 2003 Jun 4. Citation on PubMed
- Engl G, Florian S, Tranebjaerg L, Rapaport D. Alterations in expression levels of deafness dystonia protein 1 affect mitochondrial morphology. Hum Mol Genet. 2012 Jan 15;21(2):287-99. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddr458. Epub 2011 Oct 7. Citation on PubMed
- Ha AD, Parratt KL, Rendtorff ND, Lodahl M, Ng K, Rowe DB, Sue CM, Hayes MW, Tranebjaerg L, Fung VS. The phenotypic spectrum of dystonia in Mohr-Tranebjaerg syndrome. Mov Disord. 2012 Jul;27(8):1034-40. doi: 10.1002/mds.25033. Epub 2012 Jun 26. Citation on PubMed
- Roesch K, Curran SP, Tranebjaerg L, Koehler CM. Human deafness dystonia syndrome is caused by a defect in assembly of the DDP1/TIMM8a-TIMM13 complex. Hum Mol Genet. 2002 Mar 1;11(5):477-86. doi: 10.1093/hmg/11.5.477. Citation on PubMed
- Tranebjaerg L, Schwartz C, Eriksen H, Andreasson S, Ponjavic V, Dahl A, Stevenson RE, May M, Arena F, Barker D, et al. A new X linked recessive deafness syndrome with blindness, dystonia, fractures, and mental deficiency is linked to Xq22. J Med Genet. 1995 Apr;32(4):257-63. doi: 10.1136/jmg.32.4.257. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
- Tranebjaerg L. Deafness-Dystonia-Optic Neuronopathy Syndrome. 2003 Feb 6 [updated 2019 Nov 21]. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2025. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1216/ Citation on PubMed
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