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Huntington's Disease (HD) Fact Sheet
(HD
Support Information)
| Huntington's |
A genetically inherited,
neurologic disease with midlife onset of symptoms that progress over a
15-20 year period. |
| Three Disorders |
Huntington's is thought
of as three disorders:
- A movement disorder with involuntary movements, postural
changes, and difficulty with swallowing, balance, and speech.
- A cognitive disorder contributes to difficulty with impulse
control, impaired judgment, and organizing thoughts and action.
- An emotional disorder that presents ongoing challenges with
depression.
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| Progressive |
Huntington's often
starts insidiously with restlessness, changes in temperament,
depression, and involuntary movements of the fingers or face. In its
most advanced stages, there is great difficulty in speaking clearly,
walking, and eating. |
| Midlife Onset |
Most individuals with HD
have the onset of symptoms occur in the primes of their lives, i.e.,
30s, 40s, or 50s. There is a juvenile form of Huntington's that affects
about one person in ten cases. |
| Genetics |
Each and every child of
a parent with Huntington's has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the gene for
HD. It does NOT skip generations. Men and women have the same chance for
inheriting the gene. |
| Prevalence |
It is estimated that
about 25,000 to 30,000 people in the United States have HD. It affects
all races. |
| Family Disease |
HD is truly a disease of
families. Most people with HD have watched one of their parents live
through the disease. Many have cared for an afflicted parent in their
lifetimes. This person may have brothers or sisters with HD too.
Individuals with HD may be concerned that they have passed the disease
on to their own children as well. |
© 2007 Center for Neurobehavioral Health Ltd.
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Camp Hill, PA 17011
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