Early Stage: In this stage patients can still perform most of their usual activities. They may still be working and may still be able to drive. Involuntary movements are mild and infrequent, speech is still clear, and dementia, if present at all, is mild.
The disease goes on to progresses over several years and can be divided into five stages. Huntington's disease (HD) is a complex disorder that affects a person's ability to feel, think, and move. Symptoms tend to worsen over time and the disease often runs in families.
In early stage HD, individuals are largely functional and may continue to work, drive, handle money, and live independently. Symptoms may include minor involuntary movements, subtle loss of coordination, difficulty thinking through complex problems, and perhaps some depression, irritability, or disinhibition.
“Some people in this range do get Huntington's while some live into their 90s and never get a symptom,” says Shealy. “That's one of the limitations of genetic testing. We can't always give you a yes or no answer.”
This disease often affects a person's ability to plan, make decisions, and process complex topics. But patients usually retain past memories, and are able to recognize people, objects, letters, numbers, and colors. They are often able to continue carrying out jobs that they have previously been doing for many years.
Huntington's disease is a condition that stops parts of the brain working properly over time. It's passed on (inherited) from a person's parents. It gets gradually worse over time and is usually fatal after a period of up to 20 years.
Huntington's strengthens the immune system during most fertile years allowing them to produce more offspring. Symptoms associated with Huntington's occur later in life, after peak reproductive age.
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder that usually starts in mid-adult life. The clinical disease progresses to death over an average of 20 years.
Symptoms of Huntington's disease usually develop between ages 30 and 50, but they can appear as early as age 2 or as late as 80. The hallmark symptom of Huntington's disease is uncontrolled movement of the arms, legs, head, face and upper body.
Autosomal-dominant diseases that can mimic HD are HD-like 2, C9orf72 mutations, spinocerebellar ataxia type 2, spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 (HD-like 4), benign hereditary chorea, neuroferritinopathy (neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation type 3), dentatorubropallidoluysian atrophy and HD-like 1.
When to see a doctor. See your health care provider if you notice changes in your movements, emotional state or mental ability. The signs and symptoms of Huntington's disease can be caused by a number of different conditions. Therefore, it's important to get a prompt, thorough diagnosis.
Slow progression was associated with older age at onset of disease and with heavier weight (body mass index) at the first examination. Men tended to have a slower disease progression than did women, and this was particularly evident among men inheriting Huntington's disease from affected mothers.
As the disease progresses, a variety of motor, emotional/behavioral, and cognitive symptoms are experienced, including unsteadiness, trouble holding onto things, trouble walking, changes in sleeping patterns, delusions and hallucinations, intellectual decline, and memory loss.
Progress has been made in identifying possible ways of slowing down or halting the condition by "switching off" the faulty gene that causes it. Several treatments are now going through clinical trials. If they're found to be safe and effective, they might be available in several years' time.
Typically, HD progresses for 10 to 30 years. Most people with HD die from complications related to the disease. There is no cure for HD, and current medications can only relieve its symptoms, not slow or delay the progression. If Huntington's disease runs in your family, you may want to have genetic testing.
Can exercise delay Huntington's disease? Physical activities can help lessen the physical symptoms of Huntington's disease. In fact, at the moment, a combination of aerobic exercise and resistance training is considered your best option.
A preliminary diagnosis of Huntington's disease is based primarily on your answers to questions, a general physical exam, a review of your family medical history, and neurological and psychiatric examinations.
Onset is usually in mid-life, but can occur any time from childhood to old age. The initial signs of this disorder may be subtle. HD is characterized by a movement disorder, dementia, and psychiatric disturbances.
Weight loss can make symptoms worse and weaken the patient's immune system, making them more vulnerable to infections and other complications. Huntington's disease itself is not usually fatal, but it can lead to choking, pneumonia, or other infections that can lead to death.
While the cause of the disease is known — a single mutated gene — there is no cure. “Our plan is to conduct human clinical trials that deliver stem cells to replace damaged brain cells, reducing levels of harmful proteins that build up in the brains of Huntington's disease patients.”
The most painful conditions in Huntington's, said Achterberg, are limb pain, headache, abdominal pain and fractures. “I think we should do more work in validation of pain tools, including observational pain instruments,” he said. “And for clinicians, I suggest you be especially aware of abdominal pain.”
Foods to avoid for Huntington's disease
These foods include: Raw fruits. Stringy vegetables. Tough, crusty breads.
People living with HD develop uncontrollable dance-like movements (chorea) and abnormal body postures, as well as problems with behavior, emotion, thinking, and personality. For example, uncontrolled movements in the person's fingers, feet, face, or torso.
Although anyone can develop HD, it tends to run in people of European descent (having family members who came from Europe). But the main factor is whether you have a parent with HD. If you do, you have a 50% chance of also having the disease.