title: The impact of molecular biology on clinical neurology.
abstract: Advances in molecular biology have increased our understanding of both inherited and sporadic forms of neurological disease. In this review, the impact of these advances is discussed in relation to specific neurological conditions. These include the hereditary neuropathies and ataxias, Huntington's disease, and the muscular dystrophies, as well as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and motor neuron disease. Genetic channelopathies, such as familial hemiplegic migraine, are also described. Although knowledge in this area overall is still relatively scant, current advances in molecular biology have helped in the reclassification of some neurological disorders, thereby providing a further step towards the development of rational therapies to treat these conditions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001259:Ataxia / Q000235:genetics; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000235:genetics; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology; D008967:Molecular Biology; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000235:genetics; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000628:therapy; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics; D018911:Trinucleotide Repeats
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels