Huntington’s disease is a hereditary disease that causes brain cells to deteriorate, affecting both the brain and body. Symptoms usually appear around age 30-50 and include uncontrollable movements, disorientation, and dementia. There is no cure, but medication can help manage symptoms.
Huntington’s disease is an inherited disease that causes brain cells to deteriorate. The disease affects both the brain and the body. As the deterioration progresses, cells within specific areas of the brain die. Although Huntington’s disease can begin in childhood, symptoms usually don’t show up until about age 30.
Huntington’s disease was named after Dr. George Huntington in 1872. The disease now affects about one in 10,000 people. The main factor in Huntington’s disease is genetics. A child who has a parent with the disease has a 50% chance of developing the disease himself. Although it is usually a hereditary disease, about 3% of sufferers have no trace of it in their family history.
The first symptoms of Huntington’s disease usually appear around the age of 30 to 50. The disease affects the patient’s mobility, as well as the way he thinks and communicates. Huntington’s disease doesn’t just impact the person affected by it. It is a condition that affects the lives of all those close to the sick person. Eventually, the sufferer will become completely dependent on those around them for their complete care.
As the neurons in the brain begin to die, the symptoms will gradually worsen. The sufferer may exhibit uncontrollable jerking movements. The face and body may also be prone to uncontrollable spasms. Other possible symptoms include the inability to walk and major disorientation. Communication will become difficult, and speech will be slurred.
With the onset of Huntington’s disease, the sufferer’s mood and personality will change. Depression is normal. and mood swings are also to be expected. Mental capacity will deteriorate rapidly as dementia sets in. This results in memory loss and difficulty with simpler problems.
The severity of Huntington’s disease symptoms differs from person to person. Hereditary DNA factors play an important role in the severity of symptoms. For some people, the symptoms can be very mild, but for others they continue to escalate until they die and can last for about 20 years. Suicide is very common in Huntington’s disease patients.
There are medications that can be prescribed to help the sufferer cope with the symptoms of Huntington’s disease, but there is currently no way to prevent it. Research and experimentation are a constant concern. There are many organizations and help groups that deal with Huntington’s disease. They provide information and support to those affected by this deeply debilitating disease.
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