Huntington's disease is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder that causes uncontrolled movements, emotional issues, and loss of cognitive abilities. It is caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the Huntington gene on chromosome 4. Symptoms typically appear in mid-life and include jerking movements, mood swings, and cognitive decline. There is no cure for Huntington's disease and treatment aims to manage symptoms, though the condition steadily worsens over time.
3. History:
ο΅ Huntington disease was first recognized in 1872.
ο΅ It was recognized by an American doctor George Huntington.
ο΅ He wrote a paper on βChoreaβ(comes from Latin and
Greek words mean dance).
ο΅ This disease was found in East Hampton Long Island.
4. What is Huntingtonβs Disease?
ο Itβs a neurodegenerative disease which leads to
ο dementia.
ο It is cause by genetic defect on chromosome 4.
ο The defect is caused by a gene called CAG.
ο Normally it repeats 10 to 35 times.
ο In Huntingtonβs disease it repeats 36 to 120 times .
ο Usually canβt recognize when patient is in early 30βs.
5. Types:
ο It has two types :
ο Adult β onset Huntingtonβs disease:
οΆ People with adult onset Huntingtonβs disease usually develop symptoms in their mid 40βs
and 50βs.
ο Juvenile Huntingtonβs disease:
οΆ Children and teenagers have this form of disease. which is very rare. They often have
symptoms similar to Parkinsonβs disease.
6. Signs and Symptoms:
ο Behavior changes
οΆ antisocial behaviors
οΆ hallucinations
οΆ Irritability
οΆ Moodiness
οΆ Restlessness
ο Unusual movements
οΆ Facial movements including grimaces
οΆ Slow uncontrolled movements
οΆ Quick, sudden, sometimes wild jerking
movements of the arms, legs, face, and
other body parts
7. Signs and Symptoms:
ο Additional symptoms
οΆ Anxiety, stress and tension
οΆ Difficulty swallowing
οΆ Speech impairment
ο Symptoms in children
οΆ Rigidity
οΆ Slow movements
8.
9. Transmission:
ο It is passed down from one of your parent.
ο If one of your parents has Huntingtonβs disease, you have 50% chance of getting the
gene for the disease.
ο No particular groups gets it, it can affect anyone.
ο There are two forms of Huntington's disease.
οΆ The most common is adult-onset Huntington's disease. Persons with this form usually
develop symptoms in their mid 30s and 40s.
οΆ An early-onset form of Huntington's disease accounts for a small number of cases and begins
in childhood.
10. Treatment:
ο This disease is a chronic disease.
ο Once you get Huntington's you will always have it and you may have passed it on to
your children. The body basically loses control of itself as the disease is affecting your
brain
ο This disease can not be prevent if you have the defect you will die form it eventually
and if you have children you have a 50% chance of passing it on to them.
ο There really is no treatment, but there is medications that can slow down the disease
but it has a different affect on different people.