Huntington's Disease
Description
Huntington disease is a hereditary disease that causes the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain. Huntington disease, or hereditary chorea, has an extensive impact on a person 's functional abilities and usually results in movement, perceptive and psychiatric disorders (Walker, 2007). It is named after the American physician George Huntington, who provided one of the first descriptions of the disease in 1872 (Huntington, 1872). The disease causes nerve cells in the brain to die which results in progressive difficulties with movement, mood and mental function (Walker, 2007).
Most people with Huntington 's disease develop signs and symptoms in their 40s or 50s, but the appearance of the disease may be earlier or later in life (Walker, 2007). In rare cases, children can also develop Huntington 's disease. It affects both men and women and one of about every 10,000 people has the disease. About 16 percent of cases involve children. In the United States, at any given time about 30,000 have the disease (Neurology Channel, 2009). When the disease begins before the age of 20, the condition is called juvenile Huntington 's disease (Walker, 2007). Earlier onset often results in a different appearance of the symptoms and a faster disease progression.
Medications are available to help manage the symptoms of Huntington 's disease, but treatments can 't prevent the physical, mental and behavioral deterioration associated with the disorder (Neurology Channel, 2009).
Symptoms and causes
The symptoms of Huntington disease can differ between people. Symptoms deteriorate slowly and the rate of decline depends on the number of brain cells that have died. Death occurs between 10 and 30 years after the first symptoms develop. The symptoms worsen more quickly in children and death may occur within 10 years (Neurology Channel, 2009).
The early symptoms of Huntington 's disease often include: Personality changes including irritability, anger, depression, or a loss of
Huntington disease is a hereditary disease that causes the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain. Huntington disease, or hereditary chorea, has an extensive impact on a person 's functional abilities and usually results in movement, perceptive and psychiatric disorders (Walker, 2007). It is named after the American physician George Huntington, who provided one of the first descriptions of the disease in 1872 (Huntington, 1872). The disease causes nerve cells in the brain to die which results in progressive difficulties with movement, mood and mental function (Walker, 2007).
Most people with Huntington 's disease develop signs and symptoms in their 40s or 50s, but the appearance of the disease may be earlier or later in life (Walker, 2007). In rare cases, children can also develop Huntington 's disease. It affects both men and women and one of about every 10,000 people has the disease. About 16 percent of cases involve children. In the United States, at any given time about 30,000 have the disease (Neurology Channel, 2009). When the disease begins before the age of 20, the condition is called juvenile Huntington 's disease (Walker, 2007). Earlier onset often results in a different appearance of the symptoms and a faster disease progression.
Medications are available to help manage the symptoms of Huntington 's disease, but treatments can 't prevent the physical, mental and behavioral deterioration associated with the disorder (Neurology Channel, 2009).
Symptoms and causes
The symptoms of Huntington disease can differ between people. Symptoms deteriorate slowly and the rate of decline depends on the number of brain cells that have died. Death occurs between 10 and 30 years after the first symptoms develop. The symptoms worsen more quickly in children and death may occur within 10 years (Neurology Channel, 2009).
The early symptoms of Huntington 's disease often include: Personality changes including irritability, anger, depression, or a loss of
References: 1. Huntington G. 1872. "On Chorea". Medical and Surgical Reporter of Philadelphia. The Hague: Nijhoff. 26 2. National Center for Biotechnology Information (US). Genes and Disease. Bethesda (MD): National Center for Biotechnology Information (US); 1998-. Huntington disease. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22226/ 3. National Human Genome Research Project. 2009. Learning About Huntington 's Disease. http://www.genome.gov/10001215 4. Neurology Channel. 2009. Huntington 's Disease: Overview, Incidence and Prevalence. http://www.neurologychannel.com/huntingtons/index.shtml 5. Walker FO. 2007. "Huntington 's disease". Lancet 369 (9557): 218–28.