Huntington's Disease
by Erin Todd
What is Huntington's Disease?
Huntington's disease is a mental disorder, affecting a person's ability to talk, move, and think. It is a dominant autosomal, or single-gene, disease. It is an inherited disease and destroys cells in the brain. It is typically found in adults between 30-50, but can be found earlier in life.
Symptoms
Huntington's disease causes many symptoms as well as physical, psychiatric, and mental disorders.
Some physical disorders:
- involuntary jerking movements
- inability to swallow or speak
- slow eye movements
- bad balance and posture
Some physical disorders:
- withdrawal from social interactions
- loss of energy
- insomnia
- thoughts of death and suicide
Some mental disorders:
- difficulty focusing
- lack of awareness
- difficulty learning new information
- slowness in thought processing
Huntington's disease can also cause:
- OCD
- Bipolar Disorder
- Mania
Symptoms in Adolescents
The symptoms of Huntington's disease can be different in juveniles. Some symptoms are:
- problems with behavior
- drop in school performance
- changes in motor skills, like handwriting
- seizures
Treatment
Some medicines can help treat Huntington's, such as:
- Tetrabenazine
- Haloperidol
- Keppra
- Antidepressants
- Antipsychotics
Other treatment methods include:
- Psychotherapy
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy