Genes and Acute Neurologic Disease and Injury: A Primer for the Neurologic Intensive Care Nurse

The genetics revolution has not evaded the neuroscience community. Neurologic diseases and injuries, particularly of the type seen in neurologic intensive care units, are difficult to treat and often have poor prognoses. Recent work has begun to identify genotype-specific influences on development and treatment of multiple sclerosis and stroke. Additionally, responses to diseases and injuries to the brain and spinal cord have genetic influences. This article informs nurses working with neurologically impaired patients in the intensive care unit of specific genes involved in patient response and potential future therapeutics.