Little Eddie Sharp was given just 18 months to live when he was born with a rare and deadly metabolic disease known as 'childhood Alzheimer's'. The now four-year-old, who lives in Manly Vale in Sydney's north, was diagnosed at birth with Niemann-Pick Disease Type C - a genetically inherited disease that can cause irreversible brain damage. For now, Eddie's brain is slowly still developing but the deadly disease, which doctors say is similar to Alzheimer's, has already robbed him of his physical strength. Four-year-old Eddie Sharp was born with Niemann-Pick Disease Type C -  a genetically inherited disease that can cause irreversible brain damage
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Eddie Sharp, 4, was born with a metabolic disease known as Niemann-Pick Disease Type C
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The disease,  similar to Alzheimer's, can cause irreversible brain damage
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Eddie's brain is still developing but the disease has robbed him of his physical strength
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There is currently no cure Niemann-Pick  and the disease is always fatal
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On top of Eddie's rare disease, the four-year-old was also diagnosed with leukaemia two years ago
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Eddie spent all of last year in hospital undergoing chemotherapy
The research could also lead to a breakthrough for @placeholder’s patients with doctors saying the diseases are closely linked.