What is Krabbe Disease?

Krabbe disease is a rare and usually deadly disorder of the nervous system. It is an inherited genetic disease, which means that it is passed down in families. People with Krabbe disease are not able to create enough of a substance called galactosylceramidase, which is needed to make myelin. Myelin is a material your body uses to surround and protect nerve fibers. Without this protection, cells in the brain die, and the nerves in the brain and other parts of the body do not work properly.