1. Explore Testing for Huntington's Disease
Huntington's disease is an inherited condition caused by a mutated chromosome on your DNA. It strikes about one out of every 2,000 people of European descent and a smaller percentage of people with African or Asian backgrounds. Because it is inherited, you can check to see if you are at risk by looking at your family's medical history. If one parent carries the gene, you have a 50 percent chance of carrying it yourself. A blood test performed by a qualified institution can determine this, and a number of prenatal tests can check unborn children to see if they are at risk as well.
2. Know the Symptoms of Huntington's Disease
The adult version of Huntington's disease typically starts to manifest sometime between the ages of 30 and 50. There is no way to conclusively predict when exactly it will appear. Early symptoms involve a subtle loss of coordination, an increase in involuntary movements, patches of depression or irritability and increased difficulty performing complex tasks. These symptoms will worsen as the condition progresses: muscle control will become less and less reliable and thinking will grow more problematic. In the final stages, eating and swallowing become difficult and the patient can no longer be reasonably expected to care for himself. The condition can take anywhere from 10 to 25 years to run its course once symptoms appear.
3. Differentiate Between Adult and Juvenile-Onset Huntington's Disease
Some cases of Huntington's disease manifest very early in life, even before the age of 20. These differ significantly from adult instances of the disease in both the symptoms and in the challenges of dealing with it. Physical symptoms of juvenile-onset Huntington's include a stiffness in the limbs rather than jerky involuntary movements, while mental symptoms can include drastic chances in behavior and possibly seizures. Those afflicted with juvenile-onset Huntington's disease require special attention to their education, and the condition usually runs its course much more quickly than adult cases.
4. Find out How to Live With Huntington's Disease
Because Huntington's disease affects so many of your body's functions, it requires a comprehensive approach to treatment. You will need to work with therapists and caregivers to help provide for your needs. An occupational therapist can help make your home safer to avoid accidents caused by involuntary muscle movements. Exercise programs can help you adjust to balance and movement issues, while speech therapy can help you communicate clearly as Huntington's disease begins to affect your thought processes. Perhaps most importantly, the disease will make drastic changes to your metabolism, causing you to burn through far more calories than normal. A dietitian can recommend a high-calorie diet along with vitamin supplements to ensure that your nutritional needs are being met.
