Genetics of neuropsychiatric disease

Abstract

To better understand the intricacies of genetic influences on neuropsychiatric disease, it is important first to have a grounding in the models of human inheritance and current diagnostic techniques. This chapter covers the fundamentals of genetic disorders, giving insights into chromosomal, single-gene, and mitochondrial disorders. Moreover, it explores the changing applications of genomic technologies, such as whole exome and whole genome sequencing, through the lens of their implications for neuropsychiatry. Clinical examples are provided to give an idea of the genetic underpinnings of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other familiar disorders.