The Little Girl Who Ages in Reverse

A heartbreaking story from the United States is pulling at heartstrings across the internet: A six-year-old girl named Chloe is battling a severe genetic disorder that causes her to "age in reverse." Doctors believe that she will soon regress back to infancy, losing the ability to stand. Despite her young age, Chloe relies on a walker, and thick glasses help her see better—much like what many seniors experience.

Chloe, who lives in Nashville, is affected by metachromatic leukodystrophy, a genetic disorder that attacks the brain and nervous system. Doctors call this "aging in reverse," a condition where a child ages rapidly in reverse, losing capabilities. This condition prevents individuals from walking at an early age and could even strip them of the ability to feed themselves.

This disease damages the nervous system, spinal cord, and brain, leading the child to lose motor functions and live bedridden. Typically, children with this condition pass away at a very young age. Children are only at risk of this disorder if both parents carry the gene.

David noticed a change in his daughter after she turned six. Chloe stopped walking, and her teacher mentioned she appeared hunched over and unable to open her backpack. She experienced headaches, prompting her parents to take her to the hospital where she was diagnosed with the illness.

Currently, no known cure exists to help Chloe, and treatment costs run into millions of dollars, making it difficult for the family to afford. Chloe's father, David, shared with the media in their country: "Every day I must take care of my daughter, I have to find a way to stop this disease."