HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE

By: Logan Snow

WHAT IS HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE?

 Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive, inherited,

degenerative brain disorder that produces physical, mental, and
emotional changes. The illness was first described by George
Huntington in 1872. The Huntington’s Disease Society of
America was founded by Marjorie Guthrie, former wife of
famous singer Woody Guthrie, in 1968. Woody died at an age of
fifty-five due to Huntington’s Disease, which made Marjorie
produce this foundation. Huntington’s disease used to be
named as Huntington’s Chorea, which was Greek for
choreography, or dance. They named it chorea because of the
symptoms that it has.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

 Antisocial Activity
 Hallucinations
 Grouchy
 Fidget
 Spasm in the arms, legs, face, and other body parts.
 Slow uncontrolled movements
 Facial movements, including grimaces
 Not walking properly
CAUSES OF HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE

It’s caused by an inherited defect in a single

gene. This defect can cause a part of DNA,
CAG repeat, to occur many more times than
it’s suppose to. Normally, this section of DNA
repeats ten to thirty-five times. But if the
person has Huntington’s disease, then it’s
repeated thirty-six to one-hundred-and-
twenty times.
Can you see
the difference
between both
of them?
TREATMENTS

Since this is a genetic disorder, it can’t be cured.

There’s only one treatment which is counseling
and therapy. This can help the person’s everyday
speaking and/or regular exercise. There are
medications to slow down the disease, but it has a
different effect on different people. Those
medications include: Tetrabenazine
Antidepressant, Antipsychotic drugs,
Amantadine, Levetiracetam, and Clonazepam.
WHO GETS IT?

 If one of your parents has Huntington’s Disease, you have a fifty percent chance of
getting the disease. If both of them have it, there’s a very high chance of you
getting it.
 No particular groups can get it, but anyone can get affected
 Two forms of Huntington’s Disease
1. Adult-onset Huntington’s Disease - This is the most common form. People with
this type usually develop symptoms in their mid thirties or forties.
2. Early-onset Huntington’s Disease - Accounts for a small number of cases,
begins in childhood/adolescence.
VIDEO
THANK YOU