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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase (AADC) |
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Deficiency Awareness Day is being observed to focus attention on |
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this rare disease and to help educate the community, physicians, |
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and specialists about its symptoms to facilitate early detection; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, AADC Deficiency is a rare genetic neurological |
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disease, and there have been approximately 200 cases of AADC |
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Deficiency reported worldwide; and |
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WHEREAS, AADC Deficiency is a life-limiting, severely |
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debilitating condition that significantly impacts a patient's |
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development, motor skills, growth, cognition, and language skills; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The disease results from an inherited genetic |
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mutation that causes patients to lack the AADC enzyme that is |
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required to create dopamine; without dopamine, patients can never |
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achieve motor milestones like holding their heads up, sitting, and |
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standing and are unable to develop the ability to communicate or to |
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meet the most basic of life's needs; and |
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WHEREAS, Patients with AADC Deficiency often have low muscle |
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tone that is unexplained and does not improve; such patients also |
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suffer from involuntary eye movements and developmental delays; |
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AADC Deficiency is often mistaken for other diseases like cerebral |
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palsy, epilepsy, or autism; and |
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WHEREAS, Patients are diagnosed with AADC Deficiency through |
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genetic and other biochemical tests; and |
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WHEREAS, AADC Deficiency Awareness Day serves as a vital |
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means of helping inform the public and the medical community about |
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the condition, and this awareness can help patients who may be |
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experiencing the symptoms of AADC to receive appropriate treatment; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby recognize AADC Deficiency Awareness Day and encourage Texans |
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to learn more about the disease. |