Imagine facing a condition so rare that fewer than 100 people in the world are known to have it \u2014 a disorder that can disrupt a child\u2019s ability to walk, talk or even eat.<\/p>\n
While there is still much to learn about NARS1<\/a>, new research and treatments give families hope. <\/p>\n Here\u2019s what experts know about this condition, how it\u2019s diagnosed and what the future may hold for those affected.<\/p>\n What is NARS1? <\/b><\/p>\n D-FW Public Health Alerts<\/p>\n NARS1, short for asparagine-tRNA synthetase, is a rare genetic disorder that can disrupt the body\u2019s ability to produce proteins. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen this gene is not functioning well, our body has trouble making proteins. And so it can cause a spectrum of different disorders,\u201d said Kaitlin Batley, an assistant professor of pediatrics and neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.<\/p>\n Who can be affected by it? <\/p>\n NARS1-related neurologic disorders can affect anyone, according to the National Library of Medicine.<\/a> There are fewer than 100 people in the world who are diagnosed with NARS1, according to Batley. <\/p>\n NARS1 can be passed down in two ways: either when both parents carry the gene change (autosomal recessive) or when just one parent has it (autosomal dominant), according to the National Library of Medicine.<\/a> <\/p>\n