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.
Some of the suggestions I have for living with HD are: Keep life simple - Rest, Exercise, Nutrition, A daily laugh Carry earplugs with you when you are out (Some people with HD are sensitive to noise) Carry calendars with you to write down everything you must do for the day and any information you get from other people.
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.
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.
Who does Huntington's disease (HD) affect? 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.
Each child of a parent with HD has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the HD gene. A child who does not inherit the HD gene will not develop the disease, and generally, they cannot pass it on to their children or other future generations.
Huntington's disease is caused by a faulty gene. Cells in parts of the brain are very sensitive to the effects of the faulty gene. This makes them function poorly and eventually die. A parent with the Huntington's disease gene has one good copy of the gene and one faulty copy.
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 time from the first symptoms to death is often about 10 to 30 years.
The future of Huntington's disease management
“The goal is to slow down the course of Huntington's disease, preferably preventing its progression entirely.” Younes indicated there might even be an opportunity to proactively start treatment for people who carry the genetic mutation that causes Huntington's disease.
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.”
The range of disease duration was between 2 and 17 years, the oldest living to age 91.
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.
The symptoms usually start at 30 to 50 years of age, but can begin earlier than this (juvenile Huntington's disease) or much later. Once they start, the symptoms usually get gradually worse.
In addition to suggesting that creatine could slow the progression of Huntington's disease, these results also imply that neuroimaging may provide a useful way to measure disease modification when studying other potential treatments.
Working with genetically engineered mice, Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered that a gene (SIRT1) linked to slowing the aging process in cells also appears to dramatically delay the onset of Huntington's disease (HD) and slow the progression of the relentless neurodegenerative disorder.
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.
Huntington's disease is a serious and rare genetic brain disease. There's currently no cure, but an experimental drug is showing promising results and giving those living with the disease, and their families, hope.
Aerobic exercise has been shown to improve cardiovascular fitness and motor function in people with Huntington's. Aerobic exercise requires continuous movement of large muscles to increase the heart rate. This can include activities such as stationary cycling, walking at a brisk pace or uphill, and swimming.
Foods to avoid for Huntington's disease
These foods include: Raw fruits. Stringy vegetables. Tough, crusty breads.
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.
It's possible to develop HD even if there are no known family members with the condition. Around 10% of people with HD don't have a family history.
o How many Australians have Huntington's disease? The best available published evidence of relevance to Australia suggests a prevalence rate of 8.4 per 100,000 people. This indicates that with a current population of 25.7 million people in Australia1, there is currently around 2,160 people with a diagnosis of HD.