SBMA was the first identified member of a large class of neurodegenerative diseases now known as CAG-related diseases, which includes Huntington's disease (HD), several types of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCAs), and dentatorubral and pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA).
To date, a total of nine polyQ disorders have been described: six spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) types 1, 2, 6, 7, 17; Machado-Joseph disease (MJD/SCA3); Huntington's disease (HD); dentatorubral pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA); and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, X-linked 1 (SMAX1/SBMA).