What is Transketolase (TKT) deficiency—and Why Does it Matter?

In this episode of the Conversations with B’nai B’rith podcast, CEO Dan Mariaschin speaks with two leading voices shedding light on a newly identified rare genetic disorder affecting the Ashkenazi Jewish community: Transketolase (TKT) deficiency.

Joining the conversation are:

🔹 Harriet Schleifer, former Chair of the Conference of Presidents and a committed advocate shaped by her own family’s experience with TKT deficiency

🔹 Dr. Anna Szekely, Assistant Professor at Yale School of Medicine and expert in neurogenetics and rare disease research

Together, they explore what TKT deficiency is, how it affects the brain and why it’s so often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. They also discuss how this condition is inherited, the challenges families face in getting answers, and the vital work being done at Yale to advance research, diagnosis and care.

Watch the full interview now on YouTube and Facebook.

This compelling conversation dives deep into both the medical science and the personal impact of a little-known but life-altering condition.

Learn more about the Yale Transketolase (TKT) Deficiency Program.