Adrenoleukodystrophy

One of the more recognised patients with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is Lorenzo Michael Murphy Odone. He was an American who resided in Fairfax, Virginia and was born on May 29, 1978 to Michaela and Augusto Odone. He was six years old when he was initially diagnosed with ALD.

Doctors stated that he can only live for a maximum of two years with ALD because it is an incurable degenerative disease. However, because of his parents' persistence in finding a cure, he was able to live longer. His parents were responsible for discovering “Lorenzo's Oil”, which is among the treatment options believed to be helpful for ALD.

The parents of Lorenzo Michael Murphy Odone had no scientific background but they did their research to come up with Lorenzo's Oil. His story was eventually turned into a Hollywood movie in the early 1990s, which starred Nick Nolte and Susan Sarandon as Lorenzo's parents.

Lorenzo Michael Murphy Odone died on May 30, 2008 after he celebrated his 30th birthday. The cause of death was aspiration pneumonia, which was caused by food being stuck in his lungs. ALD is a fatal genetic disorder which is more prominent in young boys but Lorenzo's Oil gave hope to other sufferers of the disease to prolong their lives.

Lorenzo's Oil worked to lower the long-chain fatty acids in the blood which were responsible or further brain damage. The oil contained oleic acid, which works to destroy those harmful fatty acids. Studies revealed that the oil may not work well on those who already have ALD but it can prevent the disease on other patients who have genes making them vulnerable for ALD.