Huntington's disease is an inherited neurological disorder that causes the cells in the brain to degenerate. The disease typically appears between the ages of 30 and 50 but can appear from the age of 20. As the brain cells degenerate, the sufferer will slowly lose the ability to walk, talk and think. The earliest signs of the disease are memory loss, personality changes and a loss of muscle control.
Weight Loss
Weight loss as a consequence of Huntington's disease is common. Even in the early stages, when eating and swallowing have not become difficult for the sufferer, there is some evidence that the average Huntington's disease patient weighs less than a healthy counterpart. A study performed by Dr. Richard H. Myers et al. and published in the journal "Neurology" in November 2002 found that, compared to a control group, the 361 Huntington's disease sufferers studied had a lower body mass index than the general population.
Causes
There is no definitive cause of weight loss in Huntington's diseases sufferers, as of December 2010. Marsha L. Miller of the Huntington's Disease Society of America outlines a number of possible reasons, including the increased muscle movement associated with the disease that burns more calories and the difficulty in consuming calories as swallowing becomes difficult. However, it is also possible that Huntington's disease causes a change to the sufferer's metabolism that may cause him to lose weight.
Considerations
Although weight loss is a common symptom of the development of Huntington's disease, it does not affect all sufferers in the same way. Despite this, it is very important to have a doctor monitor your weight loss if you suffer from this disease. Weigh yourself or ask your caregiver to weigh you regularly and discuss any trends with your doctor to ensure that you are consuming the best diet possible.
Treatment
Huntington's disease sufferers can burn up to 5,000 calories every day, according to MayoClinic.com. It is important that you adjust your dietary habits to counter the calories lost. The Better Health Channel recommends consuming smaller meals, eating softer foodstuffs that are more easily swallowed, eating full-fat options and consuming nutrient-enriched drinks and foods. It is important to discuss your nutrient and calorie needs with a dietitian or your treating physician. In the later stages of the disease, tube feeding is often used to ensure that the sufferer stays nourished.
References
- BBC Health: Huntington's Disease
- Neurology: Weight Loss in Early Stage of Huntington's Disease
- Huntington's Disease Society of America: Weight Loss in Huntington's Disease
- Huntington's Disease Society of America: Nutrition Intervention in Huntington's Disease
- MayoClinic.com: Huntington's disease: Lifestyle and home remedies
- Better Health Channel: Huntington's Disease -- Diet Issues
