What does it mean if a disorder is genetic?

When disorders are passed down through the family from parent to child, it means they are inherited, or genetic. Diseases that affect several members of a family are caused by changes in genes. Having said this, sometimes genetic disorders appear in the family for the first time due to a new genetic change or mutation.  After this new genetic condition occurs, it can then be passed down through the family in a disease specific pattern.  Not all disorders that seem to cluster in families are genetic. Lifestyle and behavioral patterns such as diet, along with environmental factors, can also cause disorders among several members of a family. A genetic counselor can sometimes help family members determine if a disorder is inherited.