1. A group of inherited neurological disorders characterized by progressive degeneration of the white matter of the brain and spinal cord, caused by defects in myelin formation or maintenance.
Usage: medical term; also spelled leucodystrophy in British English; typically affects children but some forms appear in adults

Examples

• Leukodystrophy is a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system.
• Children diagnosed with leukodystrophy often experience progressive loss of motor and cognitive function.
• Doctors use MRI scans to detect abnormalities in white matter associated with leukodystrophy.
• Several types of leukodystrophy are inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern.
• Research into leukodystrophy has led to better understanding of myelin disorders.