Huntington's disease is an inherited disorder caused by a genetic defect that multiplies and becomes more prevalent with each generation. The disease causes nerve cells to waste away in the brain. There are two forms of the disease: adult-onset and early-onset. Adult-onset occurs between the ages of 30 to 40 and is the most common form of the disease. Early-onset, which is less common, begins in early childhood up to adolescence and has symptoms similar to Parkinson's Disease, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The condition is usually fatal 10 to 30 years after the onset of symptoms.
Causes
Huntington's disease is caused by a defect in the genes and may be passed on to the next generation even if only one parent is the carrier. A parent may not know that the gene has been passed on until middle age when symptoms start to show. Scientists have discovered that the defective gene interferes with how cholesterol accumulates in the brain, which is necessary for normal brain functioning. This leads to a disruption in thinking and motor skills, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms
According to the Mayo Clinic, early symptoms include clumsiness, mild balance problems, involuntary facial movement, personality changes, and comprehension problems. Later symptoms are more intense and include jerky eye movements, dementia, swallowing problems, severe coordination and balance problems, slurred speech, and involuntary movements throughout the body. Symptoms in children resemble Parkinson's disease and include slow movements, tremors and muscle rigidity. Symptoms vary between individuals and the severity depends on the degree of nerve cell loss in the brain.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis usually involves a physical examination, medical and family history, and reports of intellectual/emotional changes. If Huntington's disease is suspected, a genetic blood test is done to test for the defective gene. A psychiatric evaluation may be needed to test brain function. Brain scans like CT (computerized tomography), PET (positron emission tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) may be done to observe changes to the brain, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Treatment
Treatment consists of controlling the symptoms of the disorder. Drugs like tetrabenazine (Xenazine) helps decrease the jerky, involuntary movement of the disease, but should not be used by anyone with depression. Drugs like clonazepam (Klonopin), haloperidol (Haldol) and clozapine (Clozaril) control movements, violent outbursts, and hallucinations. Fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), sertraline (Zoloft) and nortriptyline (Pamelor) help control depression, and lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid) controls emotional mood swings. Speech therapy may help with impaired speech while physical therapy may help with muscle problems. According to the Mayo Clinic, experimental research is being conducted for Huntington's disease, which includes using AIDS and cancer drugs, as well as stem cells to help regenerate brain cells.
Lifestyle changes
Regular exercise is important to keep the body strong, which helps with coordination. A good diet may help overcome the extra calories used due to involuntary movements, and it is important to get assistance from a nutrition expert. Some foods have a negative effect on the disease like diary products, which may cause choking. The Mayo Clinic recommends drinking large amounts of fluids to prevent dehydration.
