Huntington’s Disease Essay

Huntington's Disease is a genetic autosomal disorder which effects the brain. It affects about 1 in 20,000 individuals. The symptoms of the disease do not start to occur until after or around 40 years of age. With the onset of the disease the patient starts to gradually deteriorate intellectually, this deterioration also causes involuntary movements. Scientists have only recently found the section of the gene which causes Huntington's disease, and this is allowed them to devise pre-symptomatic tests. However, a cure for the disease is yet to be found.

Huntington’s disease may be irreversible but it can be treated with proper treatment may slow down the effects of the disease and medical attention. In children who have symptoms of Huntington’s disease, some of the symptoms would be a rapid deteriorating in school performance, lack of swift movements, behavior changes etc...

Huntington's Disease is a devastating and progressive neurological disorder that resu lts primarily from degeneration of nerve cells deep in the center of the brain. The condition was first described by George Huntington, a physician in New York, in 1872. Even then, the physician recognized the all-encompassing factors of the disorder when describing it as, "coming on gradually but surely, increasing by degrees, and often occupying years in its development until the hapless sufferer is but a quivering wreck of his former self".

In 2008, the FDA approved tetrabenazine, which is used to help treat chorea. This was the first drug approved to treat symptoms of HD ("Huntington's Disease: Hope Through Research," n.d.). Additionally, the use of antipsychotic drugs are used to help lessen the extremity of involuntary movements and help moderate the individuals temperament ("Huntington's Disease: Hope Through Research," n.d.). In contrast, the use of antipsychotics are not used to help treat dystonia and may actually worsen these symptoms by causing stiffness in movement ("Huntington's Disease: Hope Through Research," n.d.). Many individuals with HD also suffer from depression and may be prescribed fluoxetine, sertraline, or nortriptyline ("Huntington's Disease: Hope Through Research," n.d.). Mood swings and anxiety are controlled with the use of tranquilizers and/or lithium ("Huntington's Disease: Hope Through Research,"

Huntington's disease is characterized by atrophy of the caudate nucleus and putamen. There are two populations of GABAergic striatal efferent neurons that are involved and this is evident based on their projection targets and neuropeptide content. In the very early stages of the disease there is a major loss of

Huntington 's Disease (HD) is a progressive brain disorder caused by a defective gene. This disease causes changes in the central area of the brain, which affect movement, mood and thinking skills. Nerve cells become impaired, causing several segments of the brain to fail. The disease disturbs movement, behavior and perception the affected people abilities to walk, think, reason and talk are slowly weakened to a point that they eventually become entirely dependent on other people for care. HD is a disease that affects the brain in many different ways. One of the ways the HD affects the brain is that it causes the person who has it to become forgetful and moody. Huntington 's disease also causes a decline in thinking and reasoning skills, including memory, concentration, judgment and ability to plan and organize.

Huntington’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that slowly breaks down somatic tissues. This degeneration causes a mass amount of chorea, change in mental functioning, change in behavior, decreased memory, along with other serious psychological problems. Since the mechanism of the disease is still not fully understood, there is no cure for the disease, but there are several therapies and medications available. All of the medication and treatment available only help to manage symptoms; they are just stalling the progression of the symptoms but not the overall disease.

It is caused by the same mutated gene, but many juvenile Huntington's Disease cases have shown that well over 40 CAG may be the cause of such early development. Earlier appearance of symptoms leads to faster progression of the disease. Beginning signs include decline in school performance, and seizures may follow. Likewise to adult onset Huntington’s Disease, depression can result from the decline in functionalities. However, many early onset Huntington’s Disease can also lead to different symptoms, such as rigidity or

About 13 years ago while at a golf course with my father, we crossed paths with an old college friend of his that he had not seen in quite some time. The middle age man approached us with what appeared to be a stuttering step and as I reached out to shake his hand, I remember noticing his arms jerk involuntarily as his hand stretched out to meet mine. He introduced himself and began reminiscing with my father. I remember being fascinated by how proper and elegant he spoke. As they parted ways, my father turned to me and before I could ask he said “my friend has Huntington disease.”

Huntington’s disease is an inherited disorder of the central nervous system, and the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain, which causes the brain to deteriorate.

Huntington’s disease is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain and eventually causes death. It is caused by a mutation in a gene that is responsible for producing the huntingtin protein. Over a period of time, physical and mental abilities gradually deteriorate, and there is currently

I am wondering if I should get tested for Huntington's Disease. My father had it and has passed away. Is there any point getting tested? There is no cure so if I do get tested and do have it, there is nothing I can do about it. I have not had all the

The topic that will be discussed and introduce is the neural disease knowns as Huntington’s Disease. The topic of Huntington’s Disease will be discussed about to get a much broader knowledge on the neural disease consist of ten pages. The first page will discuss the background and the history of Huntington’s Disease. What year was the neural disease founded and whom first discovered. The second page will discuss the biochemical basis of Huntington’s Disease and how it’s developed and what type of mutation happens for the disease to become onset or late offset. The third page will discuss the symptoms of Huntington’s Disease and when the disease symptoms develop and whether if it happens in youths or elderly. And what is the range of symptoms

Late stage. In this stage, people with Huntington's must depend on others for their care. Walking and speaking is very difficudlt, it might not be possible, Most likely the individual will still be aware of loved ones around them. Fidgety movements may become

The anxiety that comes from living with a 50 percent chance for Huntington’s disease may be devastating. Whatever the results come to be, the individual as well as their family may experience many emotional responses and the happiness of the family, neighbours,