Huntington’s disease (HD) is a brain disease that is passed down in families from generation to generation. It is caused by a mistake in the DNA instructions that build our bodies and keep them running. DNA is made up of thousands of genes, and people with HD have a small error in one gene, called huntington. Over time this error causes damage to the brain and leads to HD symptoms.
HD causes deterioration in a person’s physical, mental, and emotional abilities, usually during their prime working years, and currently has no cure. Most people start developing symptoms during adulthood, between the ages of 30 to 50, but HD can also occur in children and young adults (known as juvenile HD or JHD). HD is known as a family disease because every child of a parent with HD has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the faulty gene.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of HD can vary a lot from person to person, but they usually include:
– Personality changes, mood swings & depression
– Forgetfulness & impaired judgment
– Unsteady gait & involuntary movements (chorea)
– Slurred speech, difficulty in swallowing & significant weight loss
Most people with HD experience problems with thinking, behavior, and movements. Symptoms usually worsen over the course of 10 to 25 years and affect the ability to reason, walk, and talk. Early on, a person with HD or their friends and family may notice difficulties with planning, remembering, and staying on task. They may develop mood changes like depression, anxiety, irritability, and anger. Most people with HD become “fidgety” and develop movements of the face and limbs known as chorea, which they are not able to control.
Because of the uncontrolled movements (chorea), a person with HD may lose a lot of weight without intending to, and may have trouble walking, balancing, and moving around safely. They will eventually lose the ability to work, drive, and manage tasks at home, and may qualify for disability benefits. Over time, the individual will develop difficulty with speaking and swallowing, and their movements will become slow and stiff. People with advanced HD need full-time care to help with their day-to-day activities, and they ultimately succumb to pneumonia, heart failure or other complications. The symptoms of HD are sometimes described as having ALS, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s – simultaneously.
Treatment:
There is currently no cure or treatment which can halt, slow or reverse the progression of the disease. However, there are many treatments and interventions that can help to manage HD symptoms. A neurologist, psychiatrist, or nurse with expertise in HD may prescribe medications to ease anxiety and depression and that help with troublesome behaviors, and calm uncontrolled movements. A psychologist or social worker can provide individual or group counseling. Physical and occupational therapists can work with patients and families to develop strength, move safely, and adjust the home environment and activities as needed. Speech language pathologists and nutritionists can help with communication, eating and swallowing safely, and combating weight loss.
