INFORMATION ON GENETIC BRAIN DISORDERS 

More than a thousand genetic disorders that lead to abnormalities of brain structure and function have now been identified. They include a large number of neurometabolic disorders such as Adrenoleukodystrophy, Barth Syndrome, birth defects, brain malformations, epilepsy, Fragile-X, HPE, mitochondrial disorders, Rett Syndrome, and Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome, in which the precise biochemical disturbance has been identified. People with this mutation are at great risk for developing blood vessel lesions in the brain and their associated symptoms, as are their future children. The finding paves the way for a new genetic test for the rare, familial disease, which typically lies dormant in patients for decades before its potentially devastating symptoms appear, said the researchers. The vessel lesions in the brain can cause seizures, severe headaches, hemorrhagic stroke and neurological deficits. Affected individuals have a 50 percent chance of passing the disease on to their children. 

SYNONYMS OF GENETIC BRAIN DISORDERS 

• Hallervorden-Spatz Syndrome 
• Pantothenate Kinase Associated Neurodegeneration 
• Pigmentary Degeneration of Globus Pallidus 
• Substantia Nigra 
• Arrhinencephaly  
• Familial alobar holoprosencephaly 

CAUSES OF GENETIC BRAIN DISORDERS 

Doctors believed that depression was the result  of thoughts  or emotions that were troubling for  a person. But now experts realize that there can be several factors working together that will lead  a person to become depressed. The three most important of these are biological, genetic, and environmental factors. Biological causes are due to changes in the chemistry of the brain, such as fluctuations in the levels of important hormones.  Genetic causes are  the result  of what you inherit from your parents. 

SYMPTOMS OF GENETIC BRAIN DISORDERS 

People with this mutation are at great risk for developing blood vessel lesions in  the brain and their associated symptoms, as  are their future children 

Behavioral and emotional are 

• Irritability  
• Depression  
• Anxiety  
• Aggressive outbursts 
• Mood swings 
• Social withdrawal 
• Some others: 
• Depression  
• Forgetfulness  
• Impaired judgment 

DIAGNOSIS OF GENETIC BRAIN DISORDERS 

At this time, there is no way  to stop  or reverse the course of brain disorder. There is no Treatment to halt the progression,  which leads to death after ten to twenty-five years. However, now  that the brain disorder  gene has been located, investigators  are continuing to study the  brain disorder gene  with an eye toward understanding how it causes disease in the human body. 

Research confirms that determining the  genetic composition  of brain cancers  can better inform doctors and patients about treatment options and prognosis. The findings could change  the future of how cancers  are diagnosed. 

TREATMENT OF GENETIC BRAIN DISORDERS 

Potential treatments are described for informational purposes only. You should consult with your physician for medical advice about individual cases.