Young Perth boy diagnosed with childhood dementia at five

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 19:31 · Archive

Ezraine Aung was diagnosed with childhood dementia, caused by X-ALD, at age five and now cannot see, speak, move or eat.

Just over three years ago, Ezraine Aung was an intelligent, active five-year-old who loved cars and playing with his older brother Shayne. One day his life changed when he was diagnosed with childhood dementia, a devastating condition that has quickly stripped the young boy of most of his faculties. Now aged nine, Ezraine cannot see, speak, move or eat.

Ezraine has the genetic metabolic disorder X-ALD, which is causing his dementia, and no cure or treatment is available for him in Australia. Like all types of childhood dementia, most sufferers do not live to adulthood. Childhood dementia is severely under-researched, but Telethon funding is helping Western Australian scientists and health professionals to improve the lives of these children and their prognosis.

Ezraine's mother Lizzie Mabalay recalls that in May 2023 she took him to hospital for flu-like symptoms. Ezraine complained that her face was blurry, which alarmed her. Brain scans and blood tests revealed he was displaying symptoms of childhood dementia despite having no previous health problems. He was discharged two weeks later and returned to school with an education assistant to help with his vision problems, but within another two weeks he began to show issues with his speech and swallowing.

How it is being reported

• Telethon 2026: A family’s hope amid the heartbreak of Ezraine Aung’s childhood dementiaJust over three years ago, Ezraine Aung was an intelligent, active five-year-old who loved cars and playing with his older brother before one day he was shockingly diagnosed with childhood dementia.The West Australian · 9 Oct, 19:00
• Telethon 2026: A family’s hope amid the heartbreak of Ezraine Aung’s childhood dementiaJust over three years ago, Ezraine Aung was an intelligent, active five-year-old who loved cars and playing with his older brother before one day he was shockingly diagnosed with childhood dementia.Perth Now · 9 Oct, 19:00

In this story: Ezraine Aung · Lizzie Mabalay · Shayne Aung · Perth · Western Australia

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