| 01 |
What
is Huntington’s Disease?
Huntington’s
Disease (HD) – also called Huntington’s Chorea – is an inherited disorder
of the central nervous system. It causes progressive deterioration
with varying symptoms which may include involuntary movements, speech impairment,
and intellectual and emotional changes. Symptoms usually appear between
the ages of 30 and 45, although they may appear earlier or later. |
| 02 |
How
does the disease get its name?
The
disease is named after Dr. George Huntington, an American physician, who
was the first to publish a precise description of the symptoms and course
of the disease in an article written in 1872. |
| 03 |
How
is the disease inherited?
This
is a genetic disease. Each child of an affected parent has a one
in two chance or 50% likelihood of inheriting the gene. People with
the abnormal gene will always develop the disease, unless they die of other
causes prior to developing signs and symptoms.. People who do not
inherit the HD gene will not develop the disease, neither will their children,
or the children’s children. The disease does not “skip a generation”. |
| 04 |
How
is it caused?
It
is caused by a dominant defective gene which causes certain brain cells
to deteriorate. |
| 05 |
How
many people in Ireland are affected?
It
is estimated that *400 people have the illness in the Republic of Ireland
with a further 2000 individuals at risk of developing the condition.
On average for every individual with the disease there are 22 close family
members indirectly affected. Therefore over 9000 family members may
require support and information. |
| 06 |
How
is Huntington’s Disease diagnosed?
The
gene for HD was found in 1993. Details on diagnostic testing are
available from the National Genetics Centre in Dublin. Please phone
(01) 4558111. |
| 07 |
Is
there any test to predict if a person will get the disease?
Details
on the predictive test are available from the National Genetics Centre
in Dublin. Please phone (01) 4558111. |
| 08 |
Can
Huntington’s Disease strike without a family history of it?
Spontaneous
mutation of the genes can occur. Contact HDAI office for information. |
| 09 |
What
treatments are there for the disease?
There
are no treatments that will halt or reverse the disease process at present.
It is possible to treat some of the effects, such as depression, and gross
involuntary movements, with various drugs. Improvements in general
health, such as adequate nutrition, will bring about improvements in the
status of the person, and in their enjoyment of life.
Immense
strides are being made in medical research. Huge sums of money are
being put into research. Phone HDAI for details. |
| 10 |
Is
there a special diet required for sufferers?
There
can be rapid weight loss, and it is estimated that HD patients need something
in the order of 5000 kilo calories a day to sustain them – twice that of
the average adult intake. It has been shown that many patients who
manage to gain weight also find that their clinical state improves. |
