Huntington's Disease
A genetic disorder that causes impaired intelligence.
Symptoms of Huntington's Disease
There are 3 categories of symptoms.
1. Movement (involuntary jerkiness, abnormal eye movements)
2. Cognitive (impulsive actions, impaired intelligence, clumsiness)
3. Psychiatric (social withdrawal, thoughts of suicide)
The symptoms of Huntington's disease begin to appear between ages 30- 40.
Lifestyle Changes
As you approach the age of 35 or 40, you will be unable to do simple tasks, lose thinking skills, and experience the loss of balance.
You may also have to stay in a nursing home for Huntington's Disease for the rest of your life.
How does Huntington's Disease Work?
The production of HTT(huntingtin) is affected by Huntington's. In people affected by Huntington's disease, the CAG(cytosine, adenine, guanine) sequence is repeated 40-120 times(normally 7-36 times). This results in an abnormally long version of the protein. This is cut into many smaller pieces that bind together and accumulate in neurons, disrupting the normal functions of the cells.
Inheritance Pattern
Diagnosis of Huntington's Disease
They can also test your hearing, eye movements, coordination, involuntary movements, and mental status.
Doing a MRI scan on the brain may also reveal damage, indicating internal brain damage.