Huntington's Disease
Kamryn Nickel
What is Huntington's Disease?
Huntington's Disease is an inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain.
Causes & Complications
- it is inherited by a by a defect in a single gene
- a person only needs one copy of the defective gene to develop this disorder
- worsens over time
- time from disease onset is about 10-30 years
- risk of suicide increases
- person loses independence
- later he or she will be most likely always in bed and be unable to speak
Testing & Treatment
- testing is based primarily on questions
- a general physical exam
- review of family history
- neurological & psychiatric exams
- neurologist will test: memory, movement, reasoning, mental agility, language function, spatial reasoning
- no treatment can cure the disease but it can help
- medication can help prevent symptoms of Huntington's Disease
Preventions & Life Outlook
- if you have a family history of Huntington's Disease you may want to see a genetic counselor
- people with Huntington's Disease will have trouble maintaining a healthy weight
- they might have difficulty with chewing or swallowing
- they have an increased risk of choking
- most people with Huntington's disease will die between the age of 10 and 30 years old.
Works Cited
- "Huntington's Disease." - Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Staff, 24 July 2014. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.
- "What Is Huntington's Disease?" Huntingtons Desease Society of America What Is HD Comments. HDSA, 27 Mar. 2015. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.