Preventing Brain Damage from PKU

Your body's inability to process one single amino acid can cause irreversible brain damage.

This condition is called Phenylketonuria, or PKU. People with it can't break down phenylalanine,

an amino acid found in most proteins. When it builds up, it becomes toxic to the brain,

leading to severe intellectual disability and even a "musty" body odor. But here’s the wild

part: it's preventable. Newborns are screened for PKU, and a strict, lifelong diet low

in phenylalanine can prevent the damage. It’s just one of many rare metabolic

disorders, like Alkaptonuria, where your urine literally turns black.