Dystonia and Genetics

Abstract

In recent years, the identification of several new dystonia genes has provided important insights into the nature of this clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder. Currently, about twenty different forms of monogenic dystonia are distinguished genetically and have been designated DYT 1–13; DYT 14, which has been redefined as DYT 5; and DYT 15–21 (Ozelius et al., 2011; Wider et al., 2008). Among these DYTs, ten genes have been identified using linkage analysis in families: DYT 1, 3, 5/14, 6, 8, 11, 12, 16, and 18 (See Table 1 and Figure 1) (Ozelius et al., 2011).