Huntington's Disease Huntington's Disease By: Walter Gerring and Seth LittleBy: Walter Gerring and Seth Little

Background InformationBackground InformationWhat is it?What is it?– The genetic degeneration of brain cells, The genetic degeneration of brain cells,

called neurons, in certain areas of the called neurons, in certain areas of the brainbrain

– Causes uncontrollable movements, loss Causes uncontrollable movements, loss of intellectual faculties, and emotional of intellectual faculties, and emotional disturbancedisturbance

– Inherited disease, each child of an HD Inherited disease, each child of an HD parent has a 50-50 chance of inheriting parent has a 50-50 chance of inheriting the HD gene the HD gene

Symptoms of HDSymptoms of HDEarly symptoms are mood swings, Early symptoms are mood swings, depression, irritability or trouble driving, depression, irritability or trouble driving, learning new things, remembering a fact, learning new things, remembering a fact, or making a decisionor making a decisionAs the disease progresses, concentration As the disease progresses, concentration on intellectual tasks becomes more on intellectual tasks becomes more difficult and the patient may have difficulty difficult and the patient may have difficulty feeding himself or swallowingfeeding himself or swallowinghttp://youtube.com/watch?v=lkfSx3Qd9eghttp://youtube.com/watch?v=lkfSx3Qd9eg

CausesCauses

Caused by a single abnormal geneCaused by a single abnormal gene

Autosomal dominant disorder Autosomal dominant disorder because only one copy of the because only one copy of the defective gene, inherited from either defective gene, inherited from either parent, is necessary to produce the parent, is necessary to produce the disease disease

50 % chance of obtaining if one 50 % chance of obtaining if one parent has the geneparent has the gene

When to seek Medical advice?When to seek Medical advice?

See your doctor if there are changes See your doctor if there are changes in your movements, emotional in your movements, emotional control or mental ability (may not be control or mental ability (may not be HD)HD)

Family history of Huntington's Family history of Huntington's disease, you may want to talk with disease, you may want to talk with your doctor your doctor

DiagnosisDiagnosisDoctor performs a physical examDoctor performs a physical exam

Obtains family history and prior Obtains family history and prior medical historymedical history

A computerized tomography or an A computerized tomography or an MRI scan may show any changes to MRI scan may show any changes to your brain's structure your brain's structure

Your doctor may suggest a blood test Your doctor may suggest a blood test

ComplicationsComplications

Over time every day functions Over time every day functions worsen like eating, swallowing, worsen like eating, swallowing, speaking and walkingspeaking and walking

Many people develop depression and Many people develop depression and are at risk for suicideare at risk for suicide

Death is usually the result of the Death is usually the result of the disease due to the complications disease due to the complications from an infection or fallfrom an infection or fall

TreatmentTreatment

Medications to help symptomsMedications to help symptoms

Therapy- speech, physical and Therapy- speech, physical and occupationaloccupational

Experimental treatments and Experimental treatments and researchresearch

Self CareSelf Care

Exercise regularlyExercise regularly

Maintain proper nutritionMaintain proper nutrition

Drink plenty of fluidsDrink plenty of fluids

ReferencesReferences

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/huhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/huntingtons-disease/DS00401ntingtons-disease/DS00401

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/shttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/huntingtons_disease/ections/huntingtons_disease/