Huntington's Disease
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What is Huntington's Disease?
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?
Organizations
Related NINDS Publications and Information
Publicaciones en Español
Additional resources from MEDLINEplus
What is Huntington's Disease?
Huntington's disease (HD) results from genetically programmed degeneration of brain cells, called neurons, in certain areas
of the brain. This degeneration causes uncontrolled movements, loss of intellectual faculties, and emotional disturbance.
HD is a familial disease, passed from parent to child through a mutation in the normal gene. Each child of an HD parent has
a 50-50 chance of inheriting the HD gene. If a child does not inherit the HD gene, he or she will not develop the disease
and cannot pass it to subsequent generations. A person who inherits the HD gene will sooner or later develop the disease.
Whether one child inherits the gene has no bearing on whether others will or will not inherit the gene. Some early symptoms
of HD are mood swings, depression, irritability or trouble driving, learning new things, remembering a fact, or making a decision.
As the disease progresses, concentration on intellectual tasks becomes increasingly difficult and the patient may have difficulty
feeding himself or herself and swallowing. The rate of disease progression and the age of onset vary from person to person.
A genetic test, coupled with a complete medical history and neurological and laboratory tests, helps physicians diagnose HD.
Presymptomic testing is available for individuals who are at risk for carrying the HD gene. In 1 to 3 percent of individuals
with HD, no family history of HD can be found.
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?
Select this link to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.
Hereditary Disease Foundation 3960 Broadway 6th Floor New York, NY 10032 cures@hdfoundation.org http://www.hdfoundation.org Tel: 212-928-2121 Fax: 212-928-2172 |
Huntington's Disease Society of America 505 Eighth Avenue Suite 902 New York, NY 10018 hdsainfo@hdsa.org http://www.hdsa.org Tel: 212-242-1968 800-345-HDSA (4372) Fax: 212-239-3430 |
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Last updated July 25, 2008