Huntington's Disease
What is Huntington's disease (HD)?
Huntington's disease is a hereditary progressive neurological disorder that affects approximately 100,000 people in this country.
What are its symptoms?
Its symptoms include:
- Involuntary movements or chorea (Latin term for dance)
- Gait abnormalities with falling
- Psychiatric symptoms such as depression, anxiety and even psychosis
- Cognitive decline (dementia)
It affects patients in the prime of life (average around age 35) and progresses to a severely debilitating state over 5-20 years.
What causes Huntington's?
The gene for HD has been discovered and we are now able to predict if an at-risk person will develop the disease. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, which means that each child of a person with this disease has a 50% chance of inheriting it.
How is HD treated?
At this time there are no treatments that can alter the progressive course of Huntington's disease. However the discovery of the gene has lead to the development of animal models that may, in the near future, make the discovery of treatments a reality.
Make an Appointment
With the Emory Movement Disorders Center
|
