Prevalence of Huntington Disease

Huntington's disease is a degenerative disease of the nerve cells in your brain. The disease is inherited and symptoms may not appear until middle age. The disease causes uncontrolled muscle movements and mental and emotional disturbances that progressively worsen. Medications are available to treat symptoms, but there is no cure for Huntington's disease.

Prevalence

• According to the National Institute of Health, Huntington's disease affects three to seven people out of 100,000 of European ancestry. The disease is not as prevalent in people of Chinese, Japanese or African descent. About 15,000 people have Huntington's disease in the United States and 150,000 more have a 50 percent risk of developing the disease.

Causes

• Huntington's disease is inherited and if one parent has the disease their child has a 50 percent chance of developing the defective gene. Huntington's is caused by a degeneration of nerve cells in the brain that progressively rob you of the ability to control your body or to think clearly.

Progression

• Progression of the disease varies from person to person. Generally Huntington's disease can progress slowly when diagnosed in middle age with death not occurring for another 10 to 30 years. When diagnosed young, the disease tends to progress at a faster rate.

Symptoms

• Early symptoms of Huntington's disease include clumsiness, balance problems, irritability, depression and an inability to process new information. As the disease progresses symptoms will become more pronounced and include jerky or rapid eye movements, severe balance problems, jerky movements throughout the body and slurred or halting speech. Children's symptoms will include tremors, slow movements and rigid muscles.

Medications

• Xenazine is a medication that reduces involuntary muscle movements by providing the brain with dopamine, a chemical that seems to be lacking in people with Huntington's disease. Drugs such as Klonopin and Clozaril decrease hallucinations and violent outbursts. Antidepressants such as Prozac or Zoloft can help with depression and mood swings that normally accompany Huntington's disease.

Therapy

• A physical therapist can provide you with exercises that strengthen muscles helping you maintain balance and provide flexibility. Speech therapy can help with the slurred speech that accompanies Huntington's disease and occupational therapy can help with mental concentration problems. Research is ongoing to find ways to slow and even halt the disease. Ask your doctor about any clinical trials that you may qualify for.