Huntingtons Disease

Introduction: Huntington's desease, we assume that fatal progressive form of dementia, change in personality, memory and mood, as the disease progresses. The name was given by Dr. George Huntington, who described it for the first time in 1872. This is the degenerative disease characterized by uncontrollable jerking movements of the limbs, trunk and face, ensuring a gradual psychiatric difficulties and loss of mental capacity or control. It is estimated that this disease has affected nearly 30,000 Americans of his significant incidence of about 1 in every 10,000 people.



Types are found for several conditions to the cause of this disease, some doctors and scientists have attempted to classify cases of this disease into types based on what part of the brain is affected or what caused the disease. However, could the interference at various ways tried the group on common diseases with typical characteristics such as whether they are progressive. The examples of the types include: cortical, sub-cortical, progressive and secondary.

Causes: The causes of this desease is mainly the lack of the gene on chromosome 4, the number is better known as HD gene and Huntington's disease gene and is responsible for the production of a protein called huntingtin. The body produces the abnormal protein huntingtin, if the defect found in the HD gene, which interferes with the regular functions of several nerve cells, which later in their early death. The basic reason for HD is because the symptoms of the disorder and the loss of nerve cells.

Symptoms: The first symptoms of these diseases are: progressive problem of lack of synchronization, mood and muscular, irritability, anxiety, depression, swings and mood, distractibility, clumsiness, involuntary twitching, and problems with thinking, concentration and short-term memory. Advance stage symptoms are: deterioration in the ability of concentration and short-term memory. Raised involuntary movements of head, trunk and limbs, worse walking, speaking and swallowing abilities and irritating - aggressive and anti-social behavior. Finally, the patient loses himself in total control of the needs and complete care or hospitalization.

Diagnosis: An intense interview for obtaining medical history, including the likely symptoms of HD while other prevailing conditions is done by the neurologist for the diagnosis of the disease. Descent or genealogy is often the methods used by the doctors for the diagnosis of HD disease. The family members should be fully open when the doctor they interview about the history of the family. The doctor will also assess patient hearing, eye movements, strength, coordination, sensation, reflexes, balance, movement and mental status, in addition to several laboratory tests.

Treatment: There is perhaps no cure or even a solution for slowing the progression of HD yet. This results in the HD treatment focuses mainly on the control of movement and emotional problems associated with the disease. The treatment also focuses on the supply for the production of light live with HD disease. However, there are some drugs for the disease symptoms, but most of these drugs have different side effects.