What are common symptoms of Tay-Sachs disease?

Tay-Sachs disease is a genetic disorder that is characterized by the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. One of the common symptoms associated with this condition is low muscle tone, also known as hypotonia. This symptom reflects the muscle weakness and lack of control that children with Tay-Sachs often experience as their condition progresses. Seizures are also a frequent occurrence in patients with Tay-Sachs, resulting from the buildup of toxic substances in the nerve cells. This combination of low muscle tone and seizures is indicative of the neurological impact of the disease, highlighting its severe effects on muscle control and brain function.

The other choices include symptoms that are either not typical of Tay-Sachs or represent a different set of medical concerns. For example, heart murmurs typically do not relate to the pathology of Tay-Sachs. Similarly, while difficulty breathing and a floppy posture can indicate various neuromuscular disorders, they are not specific to Tay-Sachs. Lastly, although developmental delay is a feature of Tay-Sachs because of the progressive nature of the degeneration, a cleft palate is more associated with congenital syndromes rather than this particular disease. Overall, the identification of low muscle tone and seizures as symptoms aligns well with the understanding of