Genealogy Chat

Penny I think the jury is still out as to whether Autism is hereditary, genetic, the result of a pre-natal 'accident' or even of the triple vaccine, so I wouldnt get too hung up on that aspect, if I were you. OC

My son is in the process of seeing if he has autism. Yesterday we asked the doctor if it was hereditary. He said no & recommended as new comers a book. Started reading the book & it states it is genetic!!!

In my family along the male side they have growths which grow on there joints which means that eventually they are either unable to move certain joints or they have to have operations. This is strange as it has only happened to males but for some reason unknown to anyone even doctors i have it. (maybe i should of been born a male) It's strange how these things come about on the family tree, it makes you feel a little better knowing that you are/were not alone. I'm pleased that you have been able to talk to other family. Jen

It's one of the reasons that I always try to get death certificates for direct line ancestors. It's amazing how many of the illnesses my ancestors died of, still run through the family today. Luckily we have better health care these days, so some of the diseases are not as likely to lead to early death, but you can still see patterns running through the family. Kath. x

I’ve read this thread with interest. I have Dystonia, a movement disorder similar to Parkinson’s Disease, causing involuntary muscle spasms and abnormal postures. Luckily for me it is successfully controlled by tablets but other’s are not always so fortunate. It can effect the whole body or just one part and is considered to be hereditary. My mother also had it but in a less severe form. I had always thought that it must have come through my mother’s father’s side of the family as he died young and not much was known about him. It was always thought that my mum’s mum had no family other than her parents and two siblings, none of whom ever displayed any symptoms. Since discovering my Gt Grandfather was the youngest of eight and that my Nan had a total of 40 cousins….I have found one definite case of Dystonia affecting someone who would have been a third cousin to me and a possible misdiagnosis of a second cousin of my mother’s who was diagnosed with suspected Motor Neurone Disease in the 1950’s. No doubt there are other cases I don’t yet know about

Until I started making contact with distant relatives I had never heard of, I discovered that weak ankles are a family characteristic! It seems it only runs in the female side of the family and all from one ancestor born in the 1830's. Weird, eh? My daughter hardly has any ankles at all and the doctor can't figure out how she walks. She can manipulate her feet into the strangest angles. She doesn't seem to have a problem and can wear four inch heels with confidence. We only realised it was an inherited trait when she noticed old photographs of my grandmother and her sisters all with the same ankles. I started asking around and discovered the same story over and over again.

Relatives that I have found on my Dad's side have probs like demetisis etc that my Dad has and relatives on my Mum's side have Diabetes, Back probs, Artristis (sp), Carpal Tunnel etc etc jsut like my Mum. It is amazing really that some of it must just be in the genes!

Hi Kerry Just thought id tell you bout our probs in our family. It seems that 2nd sons born to us kids(none of us were affected eg myself or my brothers or sister) have one problem or another. My 2nd son is Autistic & Dylexic. My sisters second Son has Dispraxia & Dylexia. My brothers second son has HHD. My eldest brothers 2nd son has extreme behavoural problems ( hes only 4 yrs but to me is showing strong signs of Autism) None of these probs arise on mums side (tho heart disease is a strong genetical prob on mums side) my dad was adopted at 6yrs and I havnt plucked up the courage to ask my new found cousins personal details such as health probs. But it just seems very weird that all our 2nd kids seem to have one problem or other. Angie x

hi everyone through doing family history it has brought some interesting facts even through these facts are sad.my son at the age of 9 was digonosed with autism i always knew there was something but without being digonosed by professionals we wasnt sure.by some chance on gr i found a relative who is the wife of my 1st cousin once removed i never knew her or hubby but by talking and sending emails we got to know each other i was talking about my children one day and saying about my son and she told me that her daughters 2 sons have a type of autism as well she had a genetic test to see if it was her side of the family but proved negative.but then she said her hubbys nephew has also some kind of autism so it must come from my dads side the meads and her hubbys.just thought i would share this with you all and shows even through not happy news you do find things out with family history more then i would of thought has this happened to anyone else not just what i found but anything else that might prove useful best wishes kerry ann