Who is affected by Tay-Sachs disease

Tay-Sachs disease occurs most often in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. About 1 out of 30 people in this population is a carrier of the disease (has the Tay-Sachs trait).^{1, 2} People of French-Canadian descent from the East Saint Lawrence River Valley of Quebec and people of Cajun descent in Louisiana are also at a higher risk than the general population.

In North America, about 3 to 5 babies are born each year with Tay-Sachs disease among the Ashkenazi Jewish population.¹ For more information on genetic tests for people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, see the topic Ashkenazi Jewish Genetic Panel (AJGP).

Author:	Sabra L. Katz-Wise	Last Updated: April 14, 2006
Medical Review:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Renee H. Martin, PhD - Medical Genetics
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