Huntington's disease
Overview
Huntington's disease is an inherited condition that affects your movement, thinking and mood. It gets worse over time and cannot currently be cured, but there are treatments to help with the symptoms.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Huntington's disease usually start in adults aged between 30 and 50, but it can happen at any age. It affects people who have a parent with the condition. The symptoms develop slowly. Early symptoms can include: difficulty concentrating and planning tasksmemory problemslow mood, depression and anxietychanges in your behaviour and personality, such as becoming more irritable or impulsive – sometimes other people find these changes easier to noticesmall twitching or jerking movements that you cannot control (called chorea)becoming clumsy and finding it difficult to control your muscles These symptoms slowly get worse over several years. In the later stages, symptoms can also include: difficulty swallowing and speakinglosing weightyour muscles becoming stiff, and movement becoming slower and more difficultmore severe mood or personality changes
Causes
Huntington's disease is an inherited genetic condition. It's caused by an altered gene being passed on to a child by one of their parents. Having the altered gene causes damage to certain areas of your brain. This affects your movement, memory and thinking. If you have the altered gene, you may have no symptoms for many years, but eventually you will develop Huntington's disease. If one of your parents carries the altered gene, there's a 1 in 2 (50%) chance that you will have the gene and develop Huntington's disease.
Treatment
There's currently no cure for Huntington's disease and no treatments that can stop the symptoms getting worse. The aim of treatment will be to help you manage the symptoms and stay comfortable and independent for as long as possible. You'll be supported by a team of healthcare professionals, who will help to create a care plan. Treatment you might be offered includes: treatment for depression, such asantidepressantsand talking therapies likecognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)medicines that can help with mood and behaviour changesmedicines to help with symptoms such as twitching and jerking (chorea)physiotherapyto help with movement problemsoccupational therapyto help with daily activitiesspeech and language therapy You may also be offeredgenetic counsellingto help you understand your diagnosis and how your family members may be affected.
Prevention
Genetic testing/counselling available if family history. Pre-implantation diagnosis (IVF) to prevent passing gene.
When to see a doctor
See GP if: family history; worried about symptoms (movement/mood). Referral to specialist needed.