Huntington's disease is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder that causes uncontrolled movements, emotional issues, and loss of cognitive abilities. It is caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the Huntington gene on chromosome 4. Symptoms typically appear in mid-life and include jerking movements, mood swings, and cognitive decline. There is no cure for Huntington's disease and treatment aims to manage symptoms, though the condition steadily worsens over time.
3. History:
Huntington disease was first recognized in 1872.
It was recognized by an American doctor George Huntington.
He wrote a paper on “Chorea”(comes from Latin and
Greek words mean dance).
This disease was found in East Hampton Long Island.
4. What is Huntington’s Disease?
It’s a neurodegenerative disease which leads to
dementia.
It is cause by genetic defect on chromosome 4.
The defect is caused by a gene called CAG.
Normally it repeats 10 to 35 times.
In Huntington’s disease it repeats 36 to 120 times .
Usually can’t recognize when patient is in early 30’s.
5. Types:
It has two types :
Adult – onset Huntington’s disease:
People with adult onset Huntington’s disease usually develop symptoms in their mid 40’s
and 50’s.
Juvenile Huntington’s disease:
Children and teenagers have this form of disease. which is very rare. They often have
symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.
6. Signs and Symptoms:
Behavior changes
antisocial behaviors
hallucinations
Irritability
Moodiness
Restlessness
Unusual movements
Facial movements including grimaces
Slow uncontrolled movements
Quick, sudden, sometimes wild jerking
movements of the arms, legs, face, and
other body parts
7. Signs and Symptoms:
Additional symptoms
Anxiety, stress and tension
Difficulty swallowing
Speech impairment
Symptoms in children
Rigidity
Slow movements
8.
9. Transmission:
It is passed down from one of your parent.
If one of your parents has Huntington’s disease, you have 50% chance of getting the
gene for the disease.
No particular groups gets it, it can affect anyone.
There are two forms of Huntington's disease.
The most common is adult-onset Huntington's disease. Persons with this form usually
develop symptoms in their mid 30s and 40s.
An early-onset form of Huntington's disease accounts for a small number of cases and begins
in childhood.
10. Treatment:
This disease is a chronic disease.
Once you get Huntington's you will always have it and you may have passed it on to
your children. The body basically loses control of itself as the disease is affecting your
brain
This disease can not be prevent if you have the defect you will die form it eventually
and if you have children you have a 50% chance of passing it on to them.
There really is no treatment, but there is medications that can slow down the disease
but it has a different affect on different people.