Memorydisorder.net

Huntington disease or HD is a brain disorder that specialists consider it to be progressive, degenerative and inherited and which leads to mental, emotional and physical changes. It was named after George Huntington, who first described the illness in 1872. In the late stages of the disorder, patients can develop involuntary and jerky movements. Huntingtons disease symptoms resemble the symptoms of Parkinson or Alzheimer, but it is a less common disorder that affects the patient’s ability to think straight, talk correctly and move by destroying the brain cells that are located in the area of the brain that produces all these capacities. The disease is caused by a gene mutation that allows a high level of protein to accumulate in the brain, level that can become toxic, that is why it is considered to be an inherited disorder. The patient can get it from one or either both of his parents.

General symptoms of Huntingtons disease in an early stage can include weak memory, difficulties in making decisions, mood swings like increased depression, irritability or anger, lack of coordination, uncontrolled movements like twitching and walking, talking and swallowing difficulties. Physical symptoms may include increased clumsiness, loss of coordination and balance, incoherent speech, teeth grinding, difficulties in eating or swallowing, increased number of tics and muscular contractions. Mental signs such as a weak judgment, lack of concentration, memory loss and difficulties in taking decisions or answering questions need to be reported to a specialist because, as time passes, all these symptoms can progress to a level where the patient loses the ability to recognize the members of his family, familiar places or familiar objects. Huntington’s Disease can also be recognized by emotional symptoms such as an increased level of irritability and hostility, lack of energy, lack of pleasure, disinterest in life activities and bipolar disorder or manic depression. The last two symptoms can worsen by causing delusions, paranoia, inappropriate behavior that is usually unprovoked like aggression and hallucinations. All these signs are medically referred to as psychotic behaviors.

Huntingtons disease treatment is based on a medical approach called living positively with HD. Because the disorder is genetically inherited, it can’t be definitely cured. Patients must integrate in multi-disciplinary Huntingtons disease treatment programs that will assure a well-balanced diet, daily supplements, exercise and psychological, social and spiritual support. The goal of such programs is to increase the quality of life for HD patients. Main recommendations include foods for the brain, memory support medications and immunity boosters.

There are almost 30.000 individuals living with Huntington disease in the United States alone, that is why doctors and researchers struggle every day to find a final cure for this disorder and to improve the suggestions that they have for a normal lifestyle with HD.

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