Why is it important to research family history of disease?
It is common practice for a neurologist to ask an individual with symptoms of a neurological condition whether other family members are also affected with the same or related symptoms. It is therefore useful to know or investigate family history of disease including symptoms, ages of onset, causes and ages of death in family members including siblings, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and first cousins. Such knowledge may provide the key to a diagnosis. If a pattern of symptoms or a family history suggests a genetic disease, a referral for genetic counseling and testing may be required (see below for information about genetic counseling).
