Question
My girlfriend’s uncle and brother are intellectually disabled. Will our next generation inherit it? What is the probability of inheritance?
Answer
Generally speaking, intellectual deficiency does not have a genetic nature. The causes of intellectual deficiency are diverse, including brain disease due to ischemia and hypoxia during the birthing process. Intellectual deficiency itself is not a disease but rather a collection of symptoms caused by certain diseases or other harmful factors. In mild cases of intellectual deficiency, there may be symptoms such as brain atrophy, poor brain development, or ataxia. Most severe cases of intellectual disability also have various organ abnormalities, such as congenital heart disease, leukemia, and digestive tract malformations.