Metachromatic Leukodystrophy is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, or a subtype of Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Ophanet, who are a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when if affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Metachromatic Leukodystrophy as a "rare disease". More information about Metachromatic Leukodystrophy is available from Orphanet
The term 'prevalence' of Metachromatic Leukodystrophy usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Metachromatic Leukodystrophy at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Metachromatic Leukodystrophy refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Metachromatic Leukodystrophy diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.
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