Symptoms And Treatment Of Huntington 's Disease

Every cell within the body contains this entire set of chromosomes, which have bases arranged to form a code (Appai-Kubi). The four bases, cytosine, adenine, guanine, and thymine, interact to form the fundamental structure of DNA (Appai-Kubi). Huntington’s Disease is found on the fourth chromosome, with a sequence known as the “CAG repeat,” (Appai-Kubi). In someone who is not afflicted, the number of CAG repeats ranges from 10 to 28 (Sheth). Typically, more than 35 repetitions of CAG is associated with Huntington’s Disease, however, there are cases with people having up to 39 repeats not having the disease (Appai-Kubi). As the gene is passed on through families, the number of repeats generally increases, and with an increased number of CAG repeats, the earlier the symptoms develop (Sheth). This characteristic of the disease allows it to be tested for, by testing the frequency of CAG on chromosome 4 (Appai-Kubi.) During pregnancy, a woman can test for Huntington’s Disease in two ways; either amniocentesis, taking fluid from around the fetus, or by CVS, taking a sample of fetal cells from the placenta (Genetic Learning Center). A genetic test after birth can confirm the diagnosis after a series of neurological and psychological tests (Genetic Learning Center). Huntington’s Disease is inherited through an autosomal dominant pattern; meaning that whoever inherits the faulty gene will develop the disease throughout their lifetime (Genetic Science Learning

The genetic disorder is caused by a mutation in the DNA segment CAG found in chromosome 4 which results nerve cell death. Phenotypic characteristics include gradual motor dysfunction, psychological issues that correlate to degeneration of metal health, and cognitive degeneration. Studies on transgenic mice have allowed a better understanding of the proteins that relate to Huntington’s

In 1993 it was discovered that a segment of DNA on the arm of chromosome 4 is linked to the HD gene. They found that at one end of the HD gene, the combination CAG is repeated too many times. In people without HD this CAG is repeated 5 to 35 times. In people who are affected by HD, CAG is repeated over and over again between 36 and 121 times.

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 (HD) is an autosomal dominant, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder (Walker, 2007 and Harmon, 2007). The gene that causes the disease is located on the fourth chromosome and causes an abnormal number of repeats in the patient's genetic code (Harmon, 2007). Huntington's Disease can have devastating effects on patients' quality of life. The first symptoms of HD generally start between the ages of 30 and 45 and patients are typically asymptomatic prior to this time (Terrenoire, 1992 and Walker, 2007). However, the disease progresses with subtle changes in motor control, personality, and cognition. Patients eventually develop distinct

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".

This disease is inherited from parents, and it is dominant, meaning only one copy of the gene is needed to develop this disorder. It is extremely rare and it affects less than 0.01% of people of European ancestry. See figure 2 for heredity patterns.

Everyone can relate to the pain of having to watch a grandparent or great-grandparent slowly loose their faculties as they advance into older age. Now, imagine if this seemingly slow digression hit hard and fast at only age thirty. The age where one is finally living alone and independent, with the beginnings of a successful career and the hopes of starting a family and settling down. Huntington’s Disease quickly takes all these dreams and ambitions away, along with control of ones body and mind. The symptoms of Huntington’s, such as involuntary muscle jerks or twitches, had been seen throughout history for many years before being first recognized as an inherited disease in 1872 by Dr. George Huntington (“Hope Through Research). “The hereditary

If the disease is of the homozygous variety in a person it occurs in 1 in every 10,000 people. If the disease is heterozygous then in is found between 1 in every 5,000 people and 1 in every 15,000 people. It is more common in Venezuela then anywhere else, although it is discovered in about 240 people per year in the United States. A DNA marker G8 (D4S10) is closely linked to HD and has been identified as being on the # 4 chromosome and can detect Heterozygotes. (Encarta Encyclopedia) The connection between G8 and HD has not been clinically used because it’s a very serious disease. Theoretically a homozygote can be detected parentally. If a female has a child and she is tested positive for HD and has no history of it, then the father as well as the child a bound to end up with the disease. (Textbook

Huntington’s Disease is a dominant, autosomal, neurodegenerative disease that results from excess CAG repeats on the human chromosome 4. These CAG repeats code for a protein named Huntingtin, and patients of Huntington's Disease have a mutated form of it. Symptoms begin to appear in one’s middle ages and continue to progress over a span of about 20 years. It leads to loss of mental ability and muscle coordination, as well as increasing one’s vulnerability to depression. Those who develop Huntington’s Disease cannot be cured, but there is treatment to reduce the mental and physical effects. Genetic advancements in both testing and treating Huntington’s Disease have provided hope for families with a history of this disease, but it has

Huntington disease is created by a hereditary deficiency which has 67 exons and is in chromosome 4 which is a human karyotyre and a dominant autosomal chromosome, this means both males and females could be affected by this disorder . The deformity causes a piece of DNA to repeat CAG or

Huntington’s chorea, or more commonly known as Huntington’s disease (HD), is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects both men and women. Although previously thought to be a relatively rare disease, new research discoveries show that it’s actually more common than not; while the onset of symptoms typically occurs in a person’s 40s and 50s, research has also shown that individuals in their 70s, 80s and even 90s have enough repeats in the HTT gene to develop mild HD symptoms. (Samson, 2016) Through the selective degeneration of neurons and with the loss of neurons from the striatum and cerebral cortex, Huntington’s disease affects the nervous system by impacting movement, cognitive abilities, as well as neuropsychiatric symptoms. Unfortunately

With the use of recombinant DNA technology, the study aimed to use the restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) as DNA markers to determine linkage of the disease gene in large multigenerational families. Two large families, with Huntington’s disease, were used in the study. Pedigrees of the American and Venezuelan families showing a clear autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance of the disease were established. Family members having the disease were examined by an experienced and knowledgeable neurologist to make sure that these individuals really possessed the said disease. Blood samples from these individuals were collected and analyzed using 20 red blood cell markers to

What is huntington's Disease? How can I get it? Should I be tested? Is there a cure? These are all really good questions a lot of people would ask about Huntington's Disease. Huntingtons Disease is a brain disorder in which you get from genetics. This means you can only get this disease if somone in your family has had it. Usually you start seeing the symptoms from the ages of 30-50. Huntington's Disease is deadly. I am 30 years old and my father had this disease. Should I get tested for it?

Huntington’s disease is a rare genetic disorder that slowly kills nerve cells. The cause is the HTT gene in the fourth chromosome, being repeated more times than the healthy gene has. Due to the death of nerve cells, you can get dementia, loss of mental abilities and chorea witch is uncontrollable movements in the arms or other parts of the body. Other symptoms include violent outbursts, seizures, and dystonia or muscle problems like tremors. Also in adolescents having no perseverance and giving up right away.