Huntington's disease is a genetic disorder that causes brain cells to waste away over time. It is passed down through families and results from a defective gene on chromosome 4 that causes an excess of the protein CAG. The disease has two types - adult onset which occurs in one's 30s-40s and is more common, and childhood onset which happens at a young age in rare cases. Signs and symptoms include involuntary movements, cognitive and psychiatric problems, and eventually death around 15-20 years after diagnosis usually from infection or sometimes suicide.

1. HUNTINGTON’S
DISEASE
By: Stephanie Michel

2. What is Huntington’s
disease?
disease passed down
through families in
which brain cells waste
away or degenerate
defect in chromosome
#4
abundance of protein
CAG causes disease

3. Two Type of Huntington’s
Adult Onset Childhood Onset
Occurs in Mid Occurs at young age
30’s-40’s
Small amount of cases
Most Common Form reported
Severe Symptoms Symptoms of
Parkinson’s disease

4. Signs and Symptoms
antisocial behavior
hallucinations
paranoia
psychosis
slow movements
quick and sudden jerking movements of the arms, legs, face,
and other body parts
speech impairment
loss of memory
speech and personality changes
disorientation or confusion

5. Tests
Head CT scan
Head MRI
PET(isotope) scan of
brain
DNA testing for
chromosome #4 defect

6. Death....
~15-20 yrs after diagnosis
~usually from infection
~sometimes suicide
~cannot be prevented

7. HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=PCVO9C9Q4TE

8. SOURCE FOR
INFORMATION
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/
PMH0001775/#adam_000770.disease.treatment