Patient's question:
My cousin got divorced. Then, because he was getting older, he didn't pick much and didn't have the conditions to pick. The new wife is a bit mentally disabled. I want to know if if the effect of being mentally disabled is inherited through generations, would it be passed down to the child?Doctor's answer:
The mother may have a genetic predisposition to intellectual disability due to its potential inheritance through chromosomes in generations or genetic mutations (common in older mothers). If the mother does not carry this gene, it may be passed down to the child but not manifest as intellectual disability. However, if the mother does carry this gene, it is strongly recommended to undergo prenatal testing before having a child, as the risk of giving birth to a child with congenital intellectual disability is significantly high. Nevertheless, the possibility of other mutations cannot be entirely ruled out. It is advisable to investigate the family history for generational inheritance and to undergo prenatal testing if pregnancy occurs.