Huntington's Disease: An Overview

Huntington's disease is a progressive condition that affects the nerve cells in the brain. Huntington's is a hereditary disease, passed through a mutated gene from parent to child. A child who has a parent with the condition has a 50-50 chance of developing Huntington's disease. According to the Huntington's Disease Society of America, every person who has the mutated gene will develop the condition.

Statistics:

The Huntington's Disease Society of America states that one out of every 10,000 people in the United States has Huntington's disease, and 200 thousand more are at risk of developing the condition. The Society further states that most people affected with the condition develop symptoms between the ages of 30 and 50, but children as young as two have showed signs of the disease.

Symptoms:

Symptoms associated with Huntington's disease include irritability, anger and depression, impaired cognitive functions such as memory problems, difficulty learning and making decisions, and problems answering questions. Balance problems, clumsiness, involuntary facial movements, jerky movements that are involuntary, rapid eye movement, slurred or halted speech, problems swallowing, muscle rigidity, tremors and slow movement are also symptoms common to the disease.

Considerations:

Symptoms vary among patients with Huntington's disease, as does the age when symptoms start. The Huntington's Disease Society of America says the average lifespan of Huntington's patients after symptoms start is between 10 and 20 years. They also state people who develop symptoms at a younger age have faster disease progression.

Treatment:

There is no cure or treatment to stop the progression of Huntington's disease. Medications to help with involuntary muscle movement and speech therapy are employed to help, along with physical and occupational therapy to retain muscle strength, memory problems and, as the disease progresses, assist with everyday living activities such as eating, bathing and dressing.

Self-Help:

A Huntington's disease patient can help his or herself by exercising regularly for physical and emotional health. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that people who continue to exercise do better than ones who do not. Eating a nutritious diet, cutting food into smaller pieces to help with swallowing, avoiding dairy if it increases mucus development, using cups with lids and straws and drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration are also ways people with Huntington's can help his or herself.

References:

http://www.hdsa.org/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/huntingtons-disease/DS00401