Genetic Instabilities and Neurological Diseases covers DNA repeat instability and neurological disorders, covering molecular mechanisms of repeat expansion, pathogenic mechanisms, clinical phenotype, parental gender effects, genotype-phenotype correlation, and diagnostic applications of the molecular data. This updated edition provides updates of these repeat expansion mutations, including the addition of many new chapters, and old chapters rewritten as extensions of the previous edition. This book is an invaluable reference source for neuroscientists, geneticists, neurologists, molecular biologists, genetic counsellors and students. - Contributions by most of the principal research teams in the area, edited by world-renowned leaders - Lays the background for future investigations on related diseases

This book represents the first authoritative review of all neurological diseases related to repeat expansions. Some of the diseases covered in this volume include fragile X syndrome, spino and bulbar muscular atrophy, myotonic dystrophy, spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 and type 7, Huntingtons disease, and Friedreichs ataxia. The book describes investigations into the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for these syndromes. For students and researchers alike, Genetic Instabilities and Hereditary Neurological Diseases serves as a comprehensive treatise covering many aspects of all neurological diseases.

This monograph describes the progress in neuropathological HD research made during the last century, the neuropathological hallmarks of HD and their pathogenic relevance. Starting with the initial descriptions of the progressive degeneration of the striatum as one of the key events in HD, the worldwide practiced Vonsattel HD grading system of striatal neurodegeneration will be outlined. Correlating neuropathological data with results on the functional neuroanatomy of the human brain, subsequent chapters will highlight recent HD findings: the neuronal loss in the cerebral neo-and allocortex, the neurodegeneration of select thalamic nuclei, the affection of the cerebellar cortex and nuclei, the involvement of select brainstem nuclei, as well as the pathophysiological relevance of these pathologies for the clinical picture of HD. Finally, the potential pathophysiological role of neuronal huntingtin aggregations and the most important and enduring challenges of neuropathological HD research are discussed.

The first comprehensive text on the cerebellum and its disorders for many years.

Hereditary or genetic diseases featuring involuntary movements constitute a major aspect of the practice of neurology, functional neurosurgery, genetics, and many areas of basic and applied neuroscience research. Describing the current knowledge on these disorders, Genetics of Movement Disorders brings together information essential for clinicians, geneticists, and neuroscientists in one source. Utilizing a convenient and accessible format, the book is designed to allow easy identification of relevant information, with the overall organization of topics following established phenotypic classifications of movement disorders such as Parkinsonian syndromes, chorea, ataxia, and major categories of diseases grouped by gene locus. This book broadly appeals to neurologists, neuroscientists, geneticists, as well as cell and molecular biologists and hematologists. - Consistently formatted to present a clinical description of the disorder, followed by an in-depth analysis of the mutation and function of the mutated gene including cellular and animal models - Emphasizes the use of DNA tests for each respective disorder - Provides up-to-date, easily accessible information for clinicians, geneticists, and neuroscientists

Neurogenetics is intended for any physician or scientist who manages patients with inherited diseases of the nervous system. It presents the clinical phenotypes of the most commonly inherited neurologic diseases, and their molecular pathogenesis, followed by a description of the appropriate tests to be used in diagnosis. Two introductory chapters familiarize the nongeneticist with medical genetic terminology and molecular genetic techniques useful in the analysis of genetic disease and genetic testing. Subsequent chapters examine major neurologic disorders caused by single defects, as well as disease phenotypes such as Alzheimer disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis which may be caused by defects in single genes, but may also be seen as sporadic diseases. The genetic components of other common neurologic disorders, such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, migraine, and stroke are all covered in detail. The final chapter discusses genetic counseling of symptomatic and pre-symptomatic individuals. Throughout, chapters discuss genotype/phenotype correlations and, where appropriate, animal models for inherited human neurologic diseases. Several chapters are devoted to recently discovered diseases caused by unstable DNA repeats. Special emphasis is placed on conveying how DNA testing can be applied to the daily practice of geneticists and neurologists.

During the last three decades, many laboratories worldwide have dedicated their research activities to understanding the roles of the cerebellum in motor control, cognitive processes and the biology of mental processes, behavioral symptoms and emotion. These advances have been associated with discoveries of new clinical disorders, in particular in the field of genetic ataxias, and the growing number of diseases presents a source of difficulty for clinicians during daily practice. This practical guide summarizes and evaluates current knowledge in the field of cerebellar disorders. Encompassing details of both common and uncommon cerebellar ataxias, including vascular, immune, neoplastic, infectious, traumatic, toxic and inherited disorders, this book will assist clinicians in the diagnosis and management of the full spectrum of cerebellar ataxias encountered in daily practice. Essential reading for clinicians, including general practitioners, neurologists, pediatricians, radiologists, psychiatrists and neuropsychologists, this will also prove a valuable tool for students, trainees and researchers.