What it is
Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited disease that makes certain nerve cells in the brain waste away. People are born with the faulty gene, but symptoms usually don't appear until middle age.
Symptoms
- Early: uncontrolled movements, clumsiness and balance problems.
- Later: HD can take away the ability to walk, talk and swallow.
- Some people stop recognizing family members; others stay aware of their surroundings and able to express emotions.
Inheritance and testing
- If one of your parents has HD, you have a 50% chance of getting it.
- A blood test can tell whether you have the HD gene and will develop the disease.
- Genetic counseling can help you weigh the risks and benefits of being tested.
Treatment
There is no cure. Medicines can help manage some symptoms, but they can't slow or stop the disease.
Sources
Based on the MedlinePlus health topic "Huntington's Disease," National Library of Medicine, drawing on the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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