Huntington disease: medications, symptoms, causes, etc.

Definition

What is Huntington's disease?

Huntington's disease or in English known as Huntington's disease, is a hereditary disease that attacks certain nerve cells in the brain. This brain damage will worsen over time and can affect body movements, cognitive function of the brain (perception, awareness, thinking, judgment), and behavior of the sufferer.

Huntington's disease was originally called Huntington's chorea ("chorea" in Greek means dancing). This is because the sufferer often performs uncontrollable movements that look like jerking dances.

How common is Huntington's disease?

Because it is a hereditary disease, Huntington disease common in the sufferer's family. If a parent has Huntington's disease, the chances of their child carrying the gene for this disease are 1: 2.

Characteristics and symptoms

What are some of the features and symptoms of Huntington's disease?

Huntington's disease usually causes movement, cognitive, and psychiatric disorders. The symptoms that appear first vary widely among people who catch the disease.

Movement disorders

Movement disorders associated with Huntington disease usually includes uncontrollable movements, or also difficulty with movement.

Some of the disorders include:

• Unintentionally jerking or writhing
• Muscle disorders, such as muscle stiffness or muscle contracture (dystonia)
• Slow or abnormal eye movements
• Disturbances in gait, posture, and balance
• Difficulty speaking or swallowing

Cognitive disorders

Cognitive disorders that are often associated with Huntington disease include:

• Trouble organizing, prioritizing, or focusing on tasks
• Lack of flexibility or a tendency to get stuck with their thoughts, behavior, or actions
• Lack of desire control which can lead to turmoil, acting without thinking, and promiscuous sex
• Lack of awareness of one's own behavior and abilities
• Slowness in processing thoughts or finding the right words to form a sentence
• Difficulty processing new information

Psychiatric disorders

Depression is considered to be the most common psychiatric disorder associated with Huntington disease. Depression appears to occur due to brain injury and changes in brain function. Signs and symptoms are:

• Feelings of irritability, sadness, or apathy
• Withdrawing from social situations
• Insomnia
• Fatigue and loss of energy
• Constantly thinking about death, dying, or suicide

Symptoms of Huntington disease in adolescents

Beginnings and developments Huntington disease in younger people it may be slightly different than that in adults. Problems that often arise early in the disease include:

• Changes in behavior
• Losing previously learned academic abilities
• Rapid and significant decline in performance at school
• Behavioral problems
• Stiff and contracted muscles affect gait (especially in children)
• Changes in fine motor skills that may be seen in skill impairments, such as handwriting
• Vibration or slight uncontrollable movement
• Convulsions

When should I see a doctor?

Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent worsening Huntington's disease and other medical emergencies. Talk to your doctor as soon as possible to prevent this serious condition.

If you have any signs or symptoms above or any other questions, please consult your doctor. Everyone's body is different. Always consult a doctor to treat your health condition.

Cause

What causes Huntington's disease?

Huntington's disease is caused by a defect in a single gene. This is called an autosomal dominant disorder. That means that one copy of the abnormal gene, either from the father or from the mother, is enough to cause disease.

If one parent has this genetic defect, you have a 50 percent chance of inheriting the condition. You can also pass it on to your children.

The genetic mutations that contribute to Huntington's disease are different from other mutations. There are no substitutions or missing parts in genes. Instead, there was a copy error. An area in the gene is copied too much. The number of these repeated copies tends to increase with each generation.

Generally, symptoms Huntington's disease appears earlier in people with the greater number of repetitions. Huntington's disease also progresses faster because of the pile up of repetitions.

Triggers

Who is at risk for Huntington's disease?

Because Huntington's disease is an inherited disease, there are no factors that increase your risk of developing this disease unless you have a parent or grandparent with Huntington's.

Diagnosis

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is Huntington's disease diagnosed?

The diagnosis of Huntington's disease is made based on a physical exam, review of your family medical history and neurological and psychiatric examinations.

Neurological examination (neurological)

The neurologist will ask questions and perform relatively simple tests to assess:

• Motor symptoms (reflexes, muscle strength, muscle tone, coordination, balance)
• Sensory symptoms
• The sense of touch
• Eyesight and eye movements
• Hearing
• Psychiatric symptoms (psychiatric conditions)
• Mood (mood)

Neuropsychological tests

Neurologists may also perform standardized tests to assess:

• Memory
• Thought
• Mental intelligence
• Language function
• Spatial reasoning

Psychiatric evaluation

You will likely be referred to a psychiatrist for tests to assess a number of factors that could contribute to your diagnosis, including:

• Emotional condition
• Behavioral patterns
• Quality of assessment
• Problem solving skills
• Signs of disturbed thinking
• Evidence of addictive substance abuse

The doctor may also do a CT scan or MRI to get a picture of brain function.

Treatment

Can Huntington's disease be cured?

There is no cure for this disease.

Treatment for Huntington disease only aims to improve mood disorders and help manage some symptoms, such as irritability or excessive movement.

Therapy, such as speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy can help improve communication and daily life.

What can be done to relieve symptoms of Huntington's disease?

Here are lifestyle changes that can help you deal with Huntington's disease:

• People with Huntington disease often have difficulty maintaining a healthy weight. This is usually the result of an eating disorder, high calorie requirements due to physical exertion, or an unknown metabolic problem. To get adequate nutrition, sufferers Huntington's disease it is recommended to eat more than three times.
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, and fine motor skills can limit the amount of food you eat and increase your risk of choking. This problem can be minimized by focusing during meals and choosing foods that are easy to eat.
• Use a calendar and make a schedule for establishing routines.
• Track tasks with reminders on smartphone or help from someone closest to you.
• Divide the work into manageable steps.
• Create an environment that is as calm, simple and structured as possible.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.