The vast majority of ALS cases are sporadic with no clear cause. The hope now is that the discovery of a gene causing a disease in certain families may give scientists the lead they have been searching for to reach a cure. Ataxia Ataxia means a lack of coordination and can be associated with a degenerative disorder. Type 3 is also known as Machado-Joseph disease. Greater understanding of these factors may lead to early recognition of and intervention in stroke.
Genetic testing is possible by looking for an expanded repeat in the gene.
Huntington's disease is the most common inherited neurological disease. It is characterized by progressive deterioration. Cognitive symptoms can include memory loss and progress to dementia. Emotional problems may include personality change and depression. After many years of intense research, the HD gene was identified in 1993.