Derek J Blake

Publications (2)7.96 Total impact

• Article: Recent advances in the genetics of the ALS-FTLD complex.

  Huw R Morris, Adrian J Waite, Nigel M Williams, James W Neal, Derek J Blake
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  ABSTRACT: There is a clinical and pathological overlap between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). A number of autosomal-dominant genes have been described that primarily cause ALS or FTLD such as progranulin (GRN), valosin-containing protein (VCP), and TAR DNA-Binding Protein (TARDBP), and for each of these conditions there are a small number of cases with both ALS and FTLD. Two major genes were described in 2011, which cause FTLD and/or ALS within extended kindreds. Ubiquilin2 (UBQLN2) is responsible for X-linked FTLD/ALS. A hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9ORF72 causes chromosome 9p linked FTLD/ALS and is the most common cause of familial ALS accounting for about 40 % of familial cases. Both UBQLN2 and C9ORF72 mutations lead to TDP-43 positive neuropathology, and C9ORF72-positive cases have p62/ubiquitin-positive pathology, which is not stained by TDP-43 antibodies. Ubiquilin2 is one of a family of proteins thought to be important in targeting abnormal proteins for degradation via lysosomal and proteasomal routes. The pathogenic mechanism of the C9ORF72 expansion is unknown but may involve partial haploinsufficiency of C9ORF72 and/or the formations of toxic RNA inclusions. The identification of mutations in these genes represents an important step forward in our understanding of the clinical, pathological, and genetic spectrum of ALS/FTLD diseases.
  Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports 04/2012; 12(3):243-50. · 3.45 Impact Factor
• Article: Psychiatric disorders, myoclonus dystonia, and the epsilon-sarcoglycan gene: a systematic review.

  Kathryn J Peall, Adrian J Waite, Derek J Blake, Mike J Owen, Huw R Morris
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  ABSTRACT: Mutations in the maternally imprinted epsilon-sarcoglycan gene occur in 30%-50% of myoclonus-dystonia cases. Psychiatric symptoms, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder, have been described in some patients. We systematically reviewed 22 reports of psychiatric symptoms in myoclonus-dystonia, dividing individuals according to clinical and mutation status. Clinically manifesting mutation carriers demonstrated an excess of psychiatric disorders compared with nonmutation carriers (P < .001). No differences were seen between non-motor-manifesting carriers and nonmutation carriers with the exception of alcohol excess/dependence, higher in non-motor-manifesting carriers. The results confirm the association of epsilon-sarcoglycan gene mutations with psychiatric disease and suggest a possible separation of the motor and psychiatric effects.
  Movement Disorders 06/2011; 26(10):1939-42. · 4.51 Impact Factor