Watching a loved one suffer from a debilitating disease is heartbreaking. It’s also scary thinking about whether you may also develop the same condition or pass it on to your own children. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is an option for many people facing...
As genetics becomes an increasingly important component of research, health and medicine, protecting genetic information is vital. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), a federal law that protects...
Some 5.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. For the vast majority of them, the disease is the result of an unpredictable perfect storm of lifestyle and genetic factors. But a small minority of people who have Alzheimer’s disease — fewer...
What Is Spinocerebellar Ataxia? Ataxia is the loss of muscle coordination and can be acquired or genetic: The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of hereditary ataxias. The SCAs are rare disorders that can involve the cerebellum and other parts of the central...
When considering the risk of having a child with a genetic disease, most people are quick to think about their family history — but that isn’t the only risk factor. Most intended parents don’t realize that certain ethnic backgrounds or ancestry is...
