Huntington's disease is a genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, meaning only one copy of the defective gene is needed to develop the disease. Common signs and symptoms include uncontrolled movements, cognitive decline, and psychiatric issues like depression. While there is no cure, medications can help reduce motor symptoms, and lifestyle interventions focused on diet, exercise, and social support can help improve quality of life for those living with Huntington's disease.

1. Huntington's Disease
By: Austin Pfeifer, Jayden Given, Nathan Egbalic,
Amanda Kipperman, Baili Bainbridge, Macie
Patten

2. Overview
Huntington's disease is an inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown (degeneration) of nerve cells in the
brain. Huntington's disease has a broad impact on a person's functional abilities and usually results in movement, thinking
(cognitive) and psychiatric disorders.
Most people with Huntington's disease develop signs and symptoms in their 30s or 40s, but the onset of disease may be
earlier or later in life. When disease onset begins before age 20, the condition is called juvenile Huntington's disease. Earlier
onset often results in a somewhat different presentation of symptoms and faster disease progression.
It is estimated that for every 100,000 people worldwide, 5–10 will have Huntington’s disease. Huntington’s disease can
affect men and women of all ethnic backgrounds. The disease occurs throughout the world, however, there are geographic
clusters where it is unusually common.
There are no accurate estimates of the number of new cases each year.
Nathan Egbalic

3. Etiology
Cause
Huntington’s disease is an autosomal dominant disorder. This means that a person only
needs one copy of the defective gene to inherit this disorder. It specifically is located on
chromosome 4. It causes a part of the developing DNA to occur excessively. (36-120 times
more than usual.) The more amount of repeats, the earlier the symptoms will occur in a
person.
Nervous System Anatomy
HD affects a group of nerve cells at the base of the brain called the basal ganglia. This
organizes the muscle movement of the body.
Why?
People get this disease when their DNA copies the “CAG’ trinucleotide too many times.

4. Signs and Symptoms. Austin
Signs
Some signs of Huntington’s disease is muscular problems, behavioral problems, psychological problems, mood behaviors,
and tremor, weight loss, and impaired voice. The most common signs are progressive movement, thinking, and psychiatric
symptoms.
Symptoms
Symptoms occur between the ages 30 and 50. They can appear as soon as age 2. You may experience uncontrolled
movements in the arms, legs, head, face and upper body. It also causes a steady decline in thinking and reasoning skills,
including memory, concentration, judgement and ability to plan and organize. You will experience depression. you will aslo
find people with Huntington’s will have people repeating themselves over and over.

5. Diagnosis and Tests
Neurologists may evaluate motor symptoms, sensory symptoms and pyschiatric
symptoms, including:
Reflexes
Muscle tone/strength
Balance and coordination
Sense of touch
hearing and vision
Mental Status

6. Diagnosis and Tests
They may also suggest Neuropsychological testing including memory,
reasoning, spatial reasoning, mental agility, and language function.
A Psychiatric evaluation may be required to test emotional state, coping skills,
and signs of disordered thinking.
Brain imaging including an MRI and a CT scan may be required as well
Lastly, genetic counseling and tests are essential in determining the risk in
having children and dealing with a fatal disease.
Macie Patten

7. Treatment and Care. Amanda
No treatments can alter the course of Huntington's disease. But medications can lessen some symptoms of movement
and psychiatric disorders. Physicians are doctors in charge of treatment.
Tetrabenazine (Xenazine) is specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration to suppress the involuntary
jerking and writhing movements (chorea) associated with Huntington's disease.
The emphasis today is on living positively with Huntington's Disease. An integrated, multidisciplinary approach
focuses on the triad of:
diet and supplements
exercise
spiritual and psychosocial support
This well-rounded program enhances quality of life for people living with Huntington's Disease, as well as for those
at risk of developing HD, and may very likely delay the onset of symptoms.

8. Living and Management Jayden
People living with Huntington’s Disease most likely have a caretaker or family
member who takes care of the victim and makes sure they get what they
need and deserve.
There is a lot of support out there for people with this disease, such as;
Huntington’s Disease Society of America and many youth organizations.
Living with Huntington’s Disease you must try to remain healthy because you
are more likely to develop pneumonia and other infections.
Another person who can drastically help someone with Huntington’s Disease is
your doctor. They can provide everything that you would need from; support,
medications, insight, and information.

9. References
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/huntingtons-disease/basics/treatment/con-20030685
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/alzheimers-dementia/huntingtons-disease.htm
http://www.xenazineusa.com/FindAPhysician
http://www.lundbeck.com/us/our-commitment/disease-information/huntingtons-disease-hd
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/huntingtons-disease/basics/definition/con-20030685
http://web.stanford.edu/group/hopes/cgi-bin/hopes_test/the-basic-neurobiology-of-huntingtons-disease-text-and-audio/
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/huntington-disease
https://www.caregiver.org/huntingtons-disease
http://hdsa.org/
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/huntingtons-disease/basics/definition/con-20030685
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/huntingtons-disease/basics.test-diagnosis.con-20030685