title: The genetic epidemiology of neurodegenerative disease.
abstract: Gene defects play a major role in the pathogenesis of degenerative disorders of the nervous system. In fact, it has been the very knowledge gained from genetic studies that has allowed the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the etiology and pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we discuss the current status of genetic epidemiology of the most common neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington disease, and prion diseases, with a particular focus on similarities and differences among these syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA. bertram@helix.mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertram
authors.forename: Rudolph E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Tanzi
mesh_terms: D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D020161:Physical Chromosome Mapping