Huntington's disease is an inherited progressive, degenerative disease that causes nerve cells in the brain to waste away over time. People with Huntington's disease experience uncontrolled movements, mental deterioration and emotional disturbances. As of 2010, there is no cure for Huntington's disease, though the MayoClinic.com explains that clinical trials are ongoing.
Causes
Huntington's disease is familial and passed from parent to child through a gene mutation. When a parent has the Huntington's disease gene, a child has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the gene. A person who inherits the Huntington's disease gene will develop the disease at some point. If one child inherits the disease, this does not mean that siblings will inherit the gene, as well. If a child does not inherit the gene then he will not develop Huntington's disease and he will not pass it to subsequent generations, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Huntington's disease often begin to show up around middle age, according to the MayoClinic.com, but can present earlier in rare instances. Early signs often include irritability, depression, loss of interest, anger, minor balance problems, clumsiness and involuntary facial movements. As Huntington's disease progresses, patients will begin to experience sudden jerky movements throughout the body, known as Huntington's chorea, as well as jerky eye movements, dementia, swallowing problems, and slurred speech. In young people with Huntington 's disease, patients may have Parkinsonian symptoms such as muscle rigidity, tremors and slow movements.
Treatments
While no treatment is available to stop or reverse the disease, medications can help control symptoms for a time. Tetrabenazine is the first medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Huntington's chorea. Drugs.com explains that tetrabenazine helps to reduce the involuntary movements of Huntington's disease by increasing dopamine levels in the brain. Tranquilizers such as clonazepam and some antipsychotic medications have been shown to help control movement, violent outbursts and hallucinations in Huntington's patients, according to the MayoClinic.com. Speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy can help to keep people with Huntington's disease as independent as possible for as long as possible.
Efficacy
While treatments for Huntington's disease have helped to control symptoms, they will not slow the progression of the disease. At some point, people with the disease will no longer be able to care for themselves and will often require a nursing home.
Complications
After the onset of Huntington's disease, symptoms will continue until the person's death. Signs and symptoms of Huntington's disease will vary from person to person but complications include difficulty walking, swallowing, eating and speaking. Over time, people often develop emotional problems such as hallucinations and depression. The MayoClinic.com explains that death from Huntington's disease is most commonly because of complications of the disease and not the disease itself.
