Download Oswald, Alyssa M.

Alyssa Oswald
Microbiology Take Home 6
November 1, 2013
Huntington’s disease is an inherited disease that causes the deteriation of nerve
cells in the brain. The disease is progressive so it worsens with age. Although people
are born with the defective gene, signs and symptoms of Huntington’s disease do not
become apparent until middle age and then signs and symptoms begin to worsen
throughout the rest of the individual’s life. Rarely Huntington’s disease begins in
childhood. The average age that people begin to develop Huntington’s is in their thirties
and forties. In both adult onset and child onset of Huntington’s disease the average life
expectancy following the diagnosis is 10-15 years.
Early signs and symptoms of Huntington’s disease include uncontrollable
movements of the arms, legs, face and upperbody. This is the classic symptom of the
disease. Since this is a progressive disease later signs and symptoms include a decline
in cognitive functioning, memory, concentration and judgment. Later stages of
Huntington’s involve not being able to recognize familiar faces and places. Huntington’s
disease is recognized as a form of dementia and is related to Alzheimer’s disease. Like
other forms of dementia, there is no cure for Huntington’s disease but patients are
prescribed medicines to control the psychological functioning and uncontrollable
movements.
Huntington’s disease is caused by mutations of the HTT gene that provides the
genetic instructions for making the protein “huntingtin.” Since the disease is genetic, if
one parent has the disease there is a 50% chance that the offspring will inherit the
gene. A blood test can be performed to identify if an individual is a carrier of the gene.
Works cited
Huntington's disease: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/huntington/huntington.htm.
Accessed November 1st, 2013
Suchowersky O. Huntington disease: Management.
http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. November 1st, 2013.