Huntington’s disease is a hereditary brain disease which usually begins in mid-life (30-45). HD can affect all ethnic backgrounds and both males and females are affected equally. Although Huntington’s is not as common as hemophilia, about 30,000 Americans have the disease and 150,000 have a 50% chance of inheriting it. People with Huntington’s disease can experience personality change, depression, mood swings, involuntary movements, slurred speech, and difficulty in swallowing. As the disease progresses, the severity of symptoms increases. Concentration can be diminished, walking and everyday activities become more difficult, and involuntary movements are more severe.

        In March of 1993, scientists found the gene that causes Huntington’s disease, although they are still trying to determine what the gene’s normal function is and how it causes HD. Nothing has been proven to cure HD, but medications and treatments are available to control some of the symptoms of the disease. Genetic testing has allowed people to find out if they are at risk of developing the disease, based on their family background.

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