Inherited neurotransmitter disorders: a rapidly enlarging field of neurometabolism in children and adults

Abstract

‘a group of disorders along the monoamine synthesis pathway have been only recently recognized that require specialized CSF examination for precursors and metabolites of dopamine and serotonin.’ This issue of Future Neurology is devoted to the theme of the inherited neurotransmitter disorders. These neurometabolic syndromes comprise relatively obscure and rare diseases that, in aggregate, are assuming increasing importance in our understanding of the effects of neurotransmitter metabolism on the human nervous system. Their ramifications cut across the broadest of spectra in basic and clinical neuroscience. The articles in this volume are organized to cover the topic of the inherited neurotransmitter disorders by comprehensive clinical discussions on a range of these disorders. In order to provide balance and perspective on these seemingly disparate and rare conditions, special articles were selected to provide an overarching rubric: cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination and interpretation, emerging imaging modalities, animal models and how to incorporate the explosion of information in neurogenetics into medical practice.