Why was adrenoleukodystrophy given its name?

Answer 1

Like many names of diseases and conditions, adrenoleukodystrophy is a name that actually describes the problem or symptoms.

A dystrophy is a damage or loss of something.

Leukodystrophies involve loss of the myelin sheath (insulating wrapping around nerves). Myelin is white, and "leuko" comes from the Greek word for "white." So a leukodystrophy is a loss of or damage to white stuff (myelin). Without the myelin, the nerves do not conduct signals properly, just the way uninsulated wiring may not properly conduct electricity because it is grounded out along the way.

Adrenoleukodystrophy is a form of leukodystrophy in which the condition damaging the myelin also damages the brain and leads to failure of the adrenal glands. It is also called "Addison-Schilder Disease," "Siemerling-Creutzfeldt Disease," and "Schilder's disease" but these names merely recognize those who described it for medicine and science, showing it to be a specific condition.