Perspectives for the application of neurogenetic research in programming Neurorehabilitation

Certain genetic variants underlie the proper functioning of the nervous system. They affect the nervous system in all aspects - molecular, systemic, cognitive, computational and sensorimotor. The greatest changes in the nervous system take place in the process of its maturation in the period of psychomotor development, as well as during neurorehabilitation, the task of which is to rebuild damaged neuronal pathways, e.g. by facilitating movement or training cognitive functions. Certain genetic polymorphisms affect the effectiveness of the processes of reconstruction or restoration of neural structures, which is clearly reflected in the effects of neurorehabilitation. This review presents the perspectives for the application of neurogenetic research in programming neurorehabilitation by determining the relationship of as many as 16 different genetic polymorphisms with specific functions of importance in rehabilitation. Thanks to this broad view, it may be possible to predict the effectiveness of rehabilitation on the basis of genetic testing, which would significantly contribute to the development of personalized medicine and to the optimal management of medical services in healthcare systems.

Analysis of the Relationship Between Regulation Disorders of Sensory Processing (RDSP) and the Development of the Gait Function and Motor Learning Processes in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy

1. These results correlate with the outcomes of other studies on the relationship between sensory impairment and motor skills. 2. The study may contribute to the identification of more predictors of the effectiveness of rehabilitation of patients with CP, which can be used in the longer term to forecast the effects of therapy and the development of personalized medicine, as manifested in comprehensive therapeutic approaches (e.g. supplemented with sensory integration therapy).

Assessment of the relationship between Val66Met BDNF polymorphism and the effectiveness of gait rehabilitation in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is associated with the non‑progressive damage of upper motor neurons, which is manifested by a variety of symptoms, particularly motor and functional deficits. During the rehabilitation of patients with CP, attention is paid to improving mobility which can have a significant impact on the child's development. The effectiveness of rehabilitation depends on the plasticity of the nervous system, which may be genetically determined. Of importance are the various polymorphisms of the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene. It has been shown that the Val/Val genotype may predispose children to greater improvements in function and its maintenance. However, subjects with the Met allele showed a reduced tendency to improve their motor functions but had significantly better results on indirect tests assessing gait function. Fifty subjects with CP participated in this study. They were divided into two groups by genotype and examined on their rehabilitation progress in terms of improved gait function. The results correlated with other studies describing the relationship between the BDNF genotype and learning motor functions in CP, and with numerous studies on the relationship between BDNF genotype and neuroplasticity in stroke patients. This research provides a basis for the identification of genetic biomarkers in patients with CP which can be used to predict the effects of rehabilitation therapy and help with the development of personalized treatments.