Huntington's Disease (HD)
By: Dawson Purvis
Who, When, Where
Huntington's Disease first described residents of East Hampton, Long Island in 1872. In 1993 a group of scientists actually went into detail trying to learn more about it and how it's caused. Scientists are testing on animals to see what will help or cure this disease.
Signs and Symptoms
People with HD usually tend to have abnormal walking, they tend to look very stiff while doing so. They also have muscle spasms, in the middle of nowhere, they will start shaking very badly. They sometimes have compulsive behavior and anxiety.
Frequency
If a parent has it, you have a 50% chance of getting HD. The chances of it actually kicking in and affecting you is even less than that. The reason why is because you can have it but it not affect you.
Frequency Among A Certain Ethnicity
European people are more common to have this than anyone. European families have a 3-7-100,000 chance of getting it. Men are just as likely to have it as women. The ethnicities that get it the least are Japanese, Chinese, and African.
Treatments for HD
People with HD are using medication to help control their movements. Speech therapy so they can keep up with communication today. Physical therapy can help a lot, handrails in housing helps a lot trying to get around. Nutrient dense food is a huge factor that people with HD need to maintain, the deteriorating nerves need nutrients to help the rest of the body. Exercise is also a very big role, they need to stay in shape as well as possible.
HD Prognosis
HD is a very sad disease that will kill over time. Once they develop it, they have around 15-20 years left. This disease can not be reversed, slowed or stopped, it just tears the nerves apart and your mental health deteriorates.
Punnet Square
When a parent has this disease, the offspring will have a 50-50 chance of getting it.
Pedigree
HD very rarely skips a generation. When a parent has it, one of the children will get it, whether it kicks in and affects them or not.
References
Office of Communications and Public Liaison. "NINDS Huntington's Disease Information Page." Huntington's Disease Information Page: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 28 Jan. 2016. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
Web MD. "Huntington's Disease: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical CommunicationsThis. "Huntington Disease." Genetics Home Reference. Genetics Home Reference, 28 Mar. 2016. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
PB Works. "Huntingtons Disease." Torresbioclan /. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
"Huntington's Disease." Riverview Science /. N.p., Mar. 2014. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
"Huntington's Disease | Publish with Glogster!" Glogster. Glogster, 2007. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
"Huntington's Disease Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - Huntington's Disease Facts* - MedicineNet." MedicineNet. MedicineNet, 15 Apr. 2015. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.