Can you join the Army with NF1?

While NF1 is a disqualifying condition for military duty, it may not initially be clinically apparent until complications such as MPNSTs develop.

Is NF1 a disability?

Although neurofibromatosis is a serious condition, the Social Security Administration (SSA) does not specifically list the disorder as a disability. But, the symptoms that accompany the condition can be reviewed for benefits.

Can you live a normal life with NF1?

If there are no complications, the life expectancy of people with NF is almost normal. With the right education, people with NF can live a normal life. Although mental impairment is generally mild, NF1 is a known cause of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

What is it like to live with NF1?

In addition to the above medical problems, people with NF1 frequently have learning disabilities, attention deficit, or challenges in social situations. Less commonly, individuals with NF1 may develop a cancer, such as a malignant brain tumor, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, pheochromocytoma, or breast cancer.

Can you get NF1 later in life?

These harmless spots are common in many people. Having more than six cafe au lait spots suggests NF1 . They are usually present at birth or appear during the first years of life. After childhood, new spots stop appearing.

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How serious is NF1?

The symptoms of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are often mild and cause no serious health problems. But some people will have severe symptoms. The symptoms of NF1 can affect many different areas of the body, but it's unlikely someone will develop all of them.

Is NF1 a disability UK?

Having a diagnosis of Neurofibromatosis does not mean that you are automatically a "disabled" person. NF is variable: some people have few if any health problems. Others will have significant health factors that affect their daily life and consequently may restrict what work they can do.

Can NF1 be cured?

There isn't a cure for neurofibromatosis, but signs and symptoms can be managed. Generally, the sooner someone is under the care of a doctor trained in treating neurofibromatosis, the better the outcome.

Does NF1 affect puberty?

Delayed or Early Puberty: Most people with NF1 will start puberty at the expected age range, but some may have precocious (early) or delayed puberty. Small Stature: Affects about 30% of people with NF1 and may be treated with growth hormone.

Does neurofibromatosis worsen with age?

Unfortunately, NF1 can worsen with time, resulting in new growths over the body that cause major psychological and cosmetic issues.

Can NF1 tumors be removed?

If cancerous tumors develop with neurofibromatosis—for example, malignant plexiform neurofibromas, which can develop in the arms, legs, or trunk—they can also be surgically removed. For cancerous tumors, surgery may be combined with other treatments for cancer.

Can you have café-au-lait spots and not have NF1?

Can you have café-au-lait spots without having neurofibromatosis? Yes. It is very common for people to have a few café-au-lait spots on their bodies without having an underlying condition like neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).

Can you be a carrier of NF1 and not have it?

NF does not skip generations which means you cannot be a carrier if you do not have it, even if one or more parents have NF. NF1 and NF2 are therefore said to have “complete penetrance”.

Does NF1 affect memory?

Attention and executive functions appear to also be compromised in individuals with NF1, which are a factor in difficulties in receptive language, memory, academic skills, and adaptive skills.

Does NF1 cause ADHD?

Attention deficits have been linked to the NF1 phenotype and show an incidence of 40–50% in NF1 patients (6). The presence of ADHD in children with NF1 is associated with poorer performance in cognitive function, learning, social skills, and academic achievement.

Is NF1 linked to autism?

Introduction Children with the single-gene disorder neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) appear to be at an increased risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and exhibit a unique social-cognitive phenotype compared with children with idiopathic ASD.

Are you born with NF1?

Signs of NF1 may be present at birth and almost always by the time a child is 10. Most people with NF1 have only mild signs and symptoms that need little or no treatment. But some can be more severe.

Can NF1 cause leg pain?

Troublesome symptoms of NF1: When to call the doctor

numbness, tingling or weakness in an arm or leg. changes in neurofibromas, such as persistent and continuous pain, rapid increases in size or hardening.

What is the life expectancy of someone with NF1?

MPNST and glioma were found to be the two most common causes of reduced life expectancy among NF1 patients. In Kaplan–Meier analyses the median survival for NF1 patients was shown to be 71.5 years, with women living ∼7.4 years longer than men.

Is NF1 fatal?

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1)

In most cases, symptoms of NF1 are relatively mild, allowing patients to live normal and productive lives. However, the disorder can also be debilitating and, in some cases, life-threatening.

How many people in the world have NF?

The Neurofibromatoses are genetically-determined disorders which affect more than 2 million people worldwide; this makes NF more prevalent than cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and Huntington's Disease combined.

What do NF1 tumors look like?

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a hereditary condition commonly associated with multiple café-au-lait spots on the skin. Café-au-lait spots are light brown in color, like the color of “coffee with milk.” About 10% to 25% of the general population has café-au-lait spots; NF1 is suspected when a person has 6 or more.

Can café-au-lait spots be normal?

Café au lait spots are harmless and normal, with some people having anywhere from one to three spots. But sometimes, these spots can indicate an underlying genetic problem.

Can you have NF1 with no symptoms?

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Neurofibromatosis Type 1? Most newborns with neurofibromatosis type 1 have no symptoms, but some have curved lower leg bones. By their first birthday, most children with NF1 have several skin spots, called café-au-lait ("coffee with milk") spots because of their color.

Does everyone with NF1 get neurofibromas?

Most people with NF1 will develop regular neurofibromas, but only a third of all people with NF1 will have a plexiform neurofibroma. You may want to ask your doctor if any of your tumors are a plexiform, so you know the difference.