PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Large-scale studies using hypothesis-free exome sequencing have revealed the strong heritability of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and their molecular overlap with later-onset, progressive, movement disorders phenotypes. In this review, we focus on the shared genetic landscape of NDDs and movement disorders. RECENT FINDINGS: Cumulative research has shown that up to 30% of cases labelled as "cerebral palsy" have a monogenic etiology. Causal pathogenic variants are particularly enriched in genes previously associated with adult-onset progressive movement disorders, such as spastic paraplegias, dystonias, and cerebellar ataxias. Biological pathways that have emerged as common culprits are transcriptional regulation, neuritogenesis, and synaptic function. Defects in the same genes can cause neurological dysfunction both during early development and later in life. We highlight the implications of the increasing number of NDD gene etiologies for genetic testing in movement disorders. Finally, we discuss gaps and opportunities in the translation of this knowledge to the bedside.
FörderungenMedical University of Innsbruck European Reference Network for Rare Neurological Diseases (ERN-RND) German Research Foundation European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases (EJP RD Joint Transnational Call 2022) German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF, Bonn, Germany) Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) Free State of Bavaria under the Excellence Strategy of the Federal Government and the Lander Technical University of Munich-Institute for Advanced Study Else Kroner-Fresenius-Stiftung