Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited autosomal dominant disorder that attacks nerve cells in the brain and causes cells in the central nervous system (CNS) to deteriorate. The loss of these nerve cells throughout the nervous system causes mood swings, behavioral changes, chorea—snake-like movements—and uncontrollable twitches or ticks, difficulty with locomotion, memory loss, speech impediments, and swallowing difficulties. However, there are other symptoms ranging from physiological to psychological that can develop. People with Huntington’s disease also typically have depression and are at risk of other psychiatric conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, and manias.
While HD can develop early in life (known as juvenile HD), there is also a type that develops during adulthood during the 30s and 40s and is very common. HD can be easily passed onto children. One parent with HD means the child has a 50% of inheriting it. This also means that those who inherit the gene will be affected by Huntington’s disease eventually.
