Genetics of Brain conditions: Several diseases that directly affect the nervous system have a genetic component: some are due to a mutation in a single gene, others are proving to have a more complex mode of inheritance. As our understanding of the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders deepens, common themes begin to emerge: Alzheimer brain plaques and the inclusion bodies found in Parkinson disease contain at least one common component, while Huntington disease, fragile X syndrome and spinocerebellar atrophy are all 'dynamic mutation' diseases in which there is an expansion of a DNA repeat sequence. Apoptosis is emerging as one of the molecular mechanisms invoked in several neurodegenerative diseases, as are other, specific, intracellular signaling events. The biosynthesis of myelin and the regulation of cholesterol traffic also figure in Charcot-Marie-Tooth and Neimann-Pick disease, respectively. (Source: Genes and Disease by the National Center for Biotechnology)
Inheritance of Brain conditions refers to whether the condition is inherited from your parents or "runs" in families. The level of inheritance of a condition depends on how important genetics are to the disease. Strongly genetic diseases are usually inherited, partially genetic diseases are sometimes inherited, and non-genetic diseases are not inherited. For general information, see Introduction to Genetics.
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