Huntington’s
disease is an inherited disorder resulting in the slow and irreversible
loss of both mental and physical capacity. The usual age of onset is between
30 and 50, usually after a person has established a career, married, and
begun a family. Unfortunately, every child of an affected parent has a
50% chance of inheriting the disease. Initial symptoms can be hard to
detect and identify, including depression, mood swings, forgetfulness,
and lack of coordination.The disease is relentlessly progressive, often
taking between 10 and 25 years to fully manifest. Most late stages HD
patients are totally dependent – they cannot walk, speak, or swallow.
HD sufferers usually die from pneumonia, heart failure, or other complications.
There is also a juvenile form that affects children as young as two years
of age, which is more severe and progresses much faster. HD affects more
people than hemophilia and as many as cystic fibrosis or muscular dystrophy.
There are 30,000 persons in the United States currently diagnosed with
HD, and each of their siblings and children have a 50% chance of developing
the disease. Anyone can carry the gene and develop HD, regardless of age,
race, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, or socio-economic status.
HD is a “family disease,” not just because it is inherited
from a parent, but also because it profoundly affects the entire family
unit emotionally, socially, and financially. Because of this, there are
over 790,000 persons in the U.S. impacted by the disease. HD, like Alzheimer’s
and Parkinson’s takes the person away from their loved ones and
the rest of the world long before it kills them – and death is the
only true relief from the disease. Currently there is no known cure for
HD. Current treatment is aimed only at controlling the symptoms of the
disease. However, amazing progress is being made in the research fields
of genetics and neurodegenerative disorders. Our scientists tell us that
each day we grow closer to solving the HD puzzle and the future has never
been more promising. With financial support, the Huntington’s disease
Society of America can increase the pace of HD research, fund more researchers
and speed the identification of effective therapies that will improve
the lives of those affected by the disease. It is important to realize
that funding for this disease is actually funding for all neurological
diseases. HD is the prototypical disease for neurodegenerative diseases
such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Lou Gherig’s Disease
(ALS), multiple sclerosis, and muscular dystrophy; genetic diseases such
as familial breast cancer; and movement disorders such as Parkinson’s
disease. HD research impacts research in all of these diseases.
Sandy Lee before HD
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