Fact 7: Genetic Inheritance Patterns Affect Prognosis
Cerebellar ataxia is a genetic disorder, which means it’s passed down through families. The pattern of genetic inheritance can affect the disease’s prognosis, including its impact on life expectancy.
There are several patterns of genetic inheritance, including autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked. In autosomal dominant inheritance, an individual needs to inherit only one copy of the mutated gene to develop the disorder. In contrast, autosomal recessive inheritance requires two copies of the mutated gene, one from each parent.
The pattern of genetic inheritance can influence the severity and progression of cerebellar ataxia. For instance, autosomal recessive disorders, like Friedreich’s ataxia, tend to be more severe and progress more rapidly than autosomal dominant disorders. This difference in severity and progression can, in turn, impact life expectancy.
However, it’s important to remember that genetic inheritance is just one piece of the puzzle. Other factors, like the specific mutation involved, the presence of other health conditions, and lifestyle choices, also play a role in determining life expectancy. (7)
