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Chapter 8212Future perspectivesIf neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration are a continuum rather than distinct entities this implicates that research aimed at identifying novel treatment targets should focus on shared underlying mechanisms rather than specific conditions or symptoms. However, characterization of manifestations that develop over the life course may aid in our understanding of possible underlying mechanisms and will help to improve recommendations for clinical care and genetic counseling. Changes in phenotype may occur in mid or late adulthood and be informative of gene expression or gene-environment interactions.66 In addition, recognition of GNDs that are at increased risk of, for example Parkinson’s disease, may facilitate the use of animal and cell models that will further our understanding of underlying mechanisms and move drug discovery. With advances in diagnosis and treatment of GNDs, targeted disease-modifying therapies have become available for an increasing number of individuals diagnosed with a GND.67-69 Examples in relation to parkinsonism were discussed in chapter 2, and included individuals with phenylketonuria and other inherited disorders of (neurotransmitter) metabolism, who may benefit from nutritional or pharmacological treatments.67, 70Studies described in this thesis provided clinical recommendations for management of individuals with a GND, including 22q11.2DS, and recommendations for future research. In the following paragraphs recommendations for future research are further discussed and some new research ideas are introduced.First, future studies may focus on treatment strategies for conditions that were found (relatively) frequent in adults with 22q11.2DS. For example, in chapter 7 it was reported that almost one out of five adults with 22q11.2DS received treatment for trauma. Although treatment interventions for trauma showed positive effects in people with an intellectual disability,10 the effect of treatment in adults with 22q11.2DS is still unclear. Treatment for trauma was often offered by regional care providers and treatment effects were not always discussed during the visits to specialized 22q11.2DS clinics, but for those with available data in the medical files, some reported no or minor effects of treatment interventions. Larger samples of individuals with