Barriers to clinical genetic testing in movement disorders.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The number of known genetic movement disorders and potential treatments for these disorders have grown rapidly over the last few decades. Despite this, genetic testing for movement disorders remains relatively underutilized in clinical practice. In this review, we explore a number of barriers that prevent more routine and widespread use of genetic testing for movement disorders.

RECENT FINDINGS

Cost and limited health insurance coverage as well as difficulty accessing genetic testing and counselling are major barriers to genetic testing and disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries and specific sociodemographic groups. Clinician misperceptions and limited knowledge about genetic testing for movements disorders as well as patient and clinician concerns about the potential for genetic discrimination are further obstacles. Despite these barriers, several recent international collaborative studies have demonstrated the feasibility of delivering clinical genetic testing and genetic counselling for movement disorders on a large scale.

SUMMARY

Concerted action at multiple organizational levels (government, specialty societies, health insurance organizations, etc.) is required in order to address the identified barriers and improve utilization of genetic testing in movement disorders on a global scale.