Huntington Disease Symptoms

Huntington's disease (HD) can strike any age group but is closely associated with adults 35 to 50. The disease is also not gender specific, affecting men and women equally. Merck reports that Huntington's disease is also a rare disorder, affecting one in 10,000 individuals. Huntington's disease affects the brain and is degenerative, and although the symptoms may be subtle in the beginning, over time they become more noticeable. This scenario makes it difficult for doctors to diagnose the disease until later stages. Additionally, there is no cure for Huntington's disease and treatments focus on management of symptoms.

What is Huntington's Disease?

• Huntington's disease can be passed on from parent to child as an abnormal or "mutated" gene. If a child does not inherit the gene, Huntington's will no longer affect the blood line. The New York Times Health Guide reports that a child born of a parent who has Huntington's disease has a 50 percent chance of acquiring the disease himself. Note that there are two types of Huntington's disease: adult onset, which is the most common; and early onset, which takes place during childhood.

Psychiatric Symptoms

• According to John Hopkins Medicine, about 80 percent of patients affected by Huntington's disease have psychiatric symptoms that include depression, mood or personality disorders. As a result, a person diagnosed with Huntington's disease may have a difficult time controlling outbursts and aggression. Patients with Huntington's disease may also be abnormally impulsive and may also show signs of mania and severe anxiety. Anti-psychotic medications and anti-depressants are usually prescribed to treat the psychiatric symptoms of Huntington's disease.

Cognitive Symptoms

• Huntington's disease patients may experience difficulty remembering and organizing thoughts. Due to the brain damage that occurs as Huntington's disease progresses, cognition may become affected over time. Loss of cognition can result in difficulty completing everyday tasks and may even cause a patient to engage in questionable activity and make poor choices. The Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) of San Francisco, California, explains that despite cognition difficulties, Huntington's disease patients are very much aware of what is going on around them. Medications and occupational therapy are often utilized in the treatment of these Huntington's disease symptoms.

Movement

• The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) explains that Huntington's disease can cause the development of involuntary body movements. These movements are known as "chorea," which often intensify if the patient becomes upset. As Huntington's disease progresses, more symptoms begin to manifest that may result in difficulty walking. As a result, falls can occur along with a complete loss of balance and coordination skills. Speech and swallowing can also be affected, often causing the slurring of words and problems with eating. Neuroleptic medications and physical therapy can reduce the intensity and frequency of these Huntington's disease symptoms.

Metabolism

• Huntington's disease affects metabolism of those who inherit the illness. According to the Huntington's Outreach Project for Education at Stanford (HOPES), the ability of cells to produce energy is impeded in those who have Huntington's disease. As a result, the cells have a difficult time producing an essential protein known as "adenosine triphosphate," or ATP. Without sufficient amounts of ATP, the metabolic efficiency of cells can decline. Huntington's disease patients who experience this problem may find it necessary to increase their food consumption, as ATP can be derived from eating healthy fats. Omega-3 is a healthy fat source found in fish, nuts and soybean oil.