WHAT IS HUNTINGTON DISEASE?
Huntington Disease is an inherited, brain disorder that affects both mind and body.
It was named after George Huntington in 1872, the doctor who first described it.
It used to be called Huntington's chorea, now it is also know as HD.
HD causes cells in specific parts of the brain to die: the caudate, the putamen, and, as the disease progresses, the cerebral cortex. The caudate and the putamen have connections to many other areas of the brain, and help to control body movement, emotions, thinking behaviour, and perception of the world.
As the brain cells die, people with Huntington's become less able to control movements, recall recent events, make decisions, and control emotions. The disease leads to incapacitation and, eventually, death.
WHO GETS IT?
Approximately one in every 10,000 Canadians has HD, with approximately five in every 10,000 at risk of developing the disease.
Huntington Disease is a genetic disorder, caused by a faulty gene on chromosome 4. The HD gene is dominant, which means that each child of a parent with HD has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease and is said to be "at risk".
Approximately one in 1,000 Canadians, is touched by HD, either as person with Huntingtons (pHD), person at risk, friend, family member or caregiver.
Huntington's occurs in all races, but it is most prevalent in people of European ancestry.
Primarily, HD affects adults. Symptoms usually appear between the ages of 30 and 45, but the disease can first appear in children as young as five, or in adults in their 70s.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
There are three main types of symptoms in Huntington disease:
JUVENILE HD
About ten percent of Huntington's cases are considered "juvenile"--the symptoms appear in childhood or adolescence
The symptoms of junvenile HD are somewhat different from the adult disease. Children with HD move slowly and stiffly, they have increasing difficulty learning, and they can have convulsions, or epileptic seizures. Some children have severe behavioural problems.
The earlier the disease onset, the more likely the child is to be very rigid and appear very different from the majority of adult cases. This often makes it difficult to diagnose. Children with HD are more likely to have an affected father than an affected mother.
A pHD's Prayer
Dear God. we're so lonely and never at rest
This disease is quite hard, is it some kind of test?
If it is, have we passed it, can we go on with life?
For never, no never, have we faced such strife
An oh God, all of us need your sweet touch,
For we are all hurting, and need you so much
Please make us well in both body and mind
Restore our sweet spirits, if you could be so kind
We don't wish to sound doubtful or question your love
But please send a sign from Heaven above
For we do not know how long, this disease we can stand
And we need you to cradle us, in the plam of your hand.
Yours in love and prayer, your Angels with HD
We will fight to the end!!
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