Genetic Counseling in Neurologic Care
Who should have Neurology Genetic Counseling?
Neurology genetic counselors see patients who are symptomatic of a possible genetic condition affecting the nervous system or patients without symptoms who have a family history of neurological genetic conditions.
These include, but are not limited to:
- Neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Frontotemporal Dementia, Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia
- Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease or early-onset Parkinson’s disease
- Ataxic disorders such as Friedreich’s ataxia, Spinocerebellar ataxia, Ataxia Telangiectasia
- Neuromuscular disorders such as Myotonic Dystrophy, Duchenne or Becker Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy
- Movement disorders such as dystonia and dyskinesia
- Hereditary neuropathies such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth
- Epilepsy and seizure disorders
- Cerebral small vessel diseases and hemiplegic migraine
How can I Prepare for my Neurology Genetic Counseling Visit?
To prepare for an appointment, write down your medical and family history and ask family members about their diagnoses. You can still meet with a genetic counselor even if all the family history is not available.
Examples of medical and family history include:
Medical Records (dates, location, physician):
- Screening or imaging you have had of your brain (i.e., CT scan, MRI)
- Neurologic diagnostic testing (i.e., EEG, EMG)
- Notes from neurologists that you have seen.
- Pathology reports from surgeries or biopsies.
Family History:
- Neurologic disease history in your children, siblings, parents, aunts/uncles, and grandparents. Ages of diagnosis are important.
- Genetic testing results from any family member.
- Autopsy reports of any family member who passed away suddenly at an early age.
How can Neurology Genetic Counseling Help?
- Receive a risk assessment based on your medical and family history
- Review benefits and limitations of genetic testing
- Cost, insurance, discrimination
- Receive an interpretation of genetic testing results
- Discuss recommended screening and management
- Facilitate the identification of at-risk relatives
- Discuss recurrence risk and family planning
- Receive skilled psychosocial counseling for you and your family
- Resource for up-to-date literature and guidelines around genetics and heritable neurologic diseases
How to Schedule an Appointment
If you would like to schedule an appointment with a genetic counselor to discuss inherited neurologic disorders and testing options, a referral from your physician (such as a neurologist or PCP) is required.
TriHealth providers can place a referral in EPIC using “AMB REFERRAL TO ADULT GENETICS NON-ONC [REF2224]”
Outside providers can fax a referral form to our office.
General questions: precisionmedicine@TriHealth.com