Huntington's Disease

Introduction: Huntington's Disease

Huntington's Disease: Huntington disease (HD) is an inherited, degenerative neurological disease that leads to dementia. (Source: Genes and Disease by the National Center for Biotechnology) ... more about Huntington's Disease.

Huntington's Disease: Inherited disease causing progressive mental deterioration. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Huntington's Disease is available below.

Symptoms of Huntington's Disease

• Mood swings
• Apathy
• Depression
• Irritability
• Difficulty driving

See full list of 45 symptoms of Huntington's Disease

Medical Textbooks Online about Huntington's Disease

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Huntington's Disease

• Huntington's genetic test
• Neurological tests
• Blood tests
• Prenatal genetic testing

Read more about tests for Huntington's Disease

Wrongly Diagnosed with Huntington's Disease?

• Misdiagnosis of Huntington's Disease

Misdiagnosis and Huntington's Disease

Huntington disease maybe confused: Huntington Disease is an autosomal dominant disorder presenting as an inherited adult onset neurological disorder. The patient has three characteristic features: chorea, abnormal behaviour and dementia. It must also be differentiated from other disorders or conditions associated with chorea such as Wilson disease, drug-induced tardive dyskinesia, Sydenham's chorea, systemic lupus erythematosus and senile chorea. A family history must be asked for. The disease has a fatal outcome 15- 20 years from onset. There is no specific treatment for the condition. Genetic testing and counselling is every important in Huntington disease....read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Huntington's Disease

Causes of Huntington's Disease

Read more about causes of Huntington's Disease.

Treatments for Huntington's Disease

• Prenatal chorionic villus sampling
• Medications
• Anti-chorea medications
• Anti-agitation medications
• Physiotherapy

See full list of 6 treatments for Huntington's Disease

Videos for Huntington's Disease

Patient Surveys for Huntington's Disease

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your Huntington's Disease
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Prognosis for Huntington's Disease

Prognosis for Huntington's Disease: Poor. Degenerative disease.

More about prognosis of Huntington's Disease

Reseach about Huntington's Disease

Visit our research pages for current research about Huntington's Disease treatments.

Clinical Trials for Huntington's Disease

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Huntington's Disease include:

• Neurobiological Predictors of Huntingtons Disease (PREDICT-HD) - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Prospective Huntington At Risk Observational Study (PHAROS) - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• CIT-HD: Study in Huntingtons Disease - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - citalopram
• Atomoxetine and Huntington's Disease - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - atomoxetine
• Cooperative Huntington's Observational Research Trial - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)

See full list of 20 Clinical Trials for Huntington's Disease

Statistics for Huntington's Disease

• Medical statistics for Huntington's Disease
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Huntington's Disease
• Death and Mortality statistics for Huntington's Disease
• Society statistics for Huntington's Disease

Stories from Users Related to Huntington's Disease

• Chorea?? Drug Induced??
• marijuana use and chorea
• huntingtons
• My Positive Huntington's Website
• My Positive Huntington's Website

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Huntington's Disease, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Huntington's Disease

Genes and Disease by the National Center for Biotechnology (Excerpt)

Huntington disease (HD) is an inherited, degenerative neurological disease that leads to dementia. (Source: Genes and Disease by the National Center for Biotechnology)

NINDS Huntington's Disease Information Page: NINDS (Excerpt)

Huntington's disease (HD) results from genetically programmed degeneration of brain cells, called neurons, in certain areas of the brain. This degeneration causes uncontrolled movements, loss of intellectual faculties, and emotional disturbance. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Huntington's Disease Information Page: NINDS)

Definitions of Huntington's Disease:

Chronic progressive chorea and mental deterioration terminating in dementia; the age of onset usually is in the fourth decade of life. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Hereditary disease; develops in adulthood and ends in dementia - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Huntington's Disease is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Huntington's Disease, or a subtype of Huntington's Disease, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Huntington's Disease as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet