Huntington's disease
The clinical features of Huntington's disease can include psychiatric problems anddifficultieswith behaviour, feeding, communication and abnormal movements.
People can start to show the features of Huntington's disease at almost any age, but most will develop problems between the ages of 35 and 55.
The condition usually progresses and gets worse for around10-25 years, until the person eventually dies. Signs and symptoms may vary between individuals andthere's no typical pattern.
Early features, such as personality changes, mood swings and unusual behaviour, are often overlooked at first and attributed to something else.
Some people with Huntington's disease may not recognise that they have any problems.
Behavioural changes are often the first features to appear in Huntington's disease and can be the most distressing. These changes often include:
A person with Huntington's disease may appear to have a lack of drive, initiative and concentration, making them seem lazy. However, this isn't the case it's just the way the condition affects the brain. As part of this, they may also develop a lack of interest in hygiene and self care.
The Huntington's Disease Association has more information about the behavioural problems (PDF, 219kb) associated with the condition.
Many people with Huntington's disease have Depression . This occurs as part of the condition,not just as a response to the diagnosis. Symptoms of depression include continuous low mood, low self-esteem, a lack of motivation or interest in things, and feelings of hopelessness.
A few peoplemay also develop obsessive behaviours and schizophrenic-like problems, although this is relatively rare.
Studies have shown that people with Huntington's disease are more likely to consider suicide , particularly near the time of diagnosis when the condition is becoming apparent, and when they start to lose their independence.
Find out how to get help if you think someone you care foris suicidal .
Huntington's disease affects movement. Early features include slight, uncontrollable movements of the face, and jerking, flicking or fidgety movements of the limbs and body. These move from one area of the body to another and can cause the person to lurch and stumble.
These featuresare often first seen when the person iswalking or resting (sitting in a chair or lying in bed).
As the condition progresses, the uncontrollable movements will become more frequent and extreme. However, over timethis may change and in the advanced stages of the condition a person'smovements may become slow and their muscles more rigid.
People with Huntington's disease tend to lose weight, despite having agood appetite. They can find eating tiring, frustrating and messy because the mouthand throatmuscles don't work properly, due to the loss of motor control. In some cases, this can lead to choking and recurrent chest infections.
Loss of coordination can lead to spilling or dropping food. Swallowing is a problem, so choking on food and drink, particularly thin drinks such as water, can be a common problem.
A referralto a dietitian or a speech and language therapist may be necessaryif there are difficulties with swallowing. In some cases, a feeding tube can be inserted.
People with the condition often have difficulty putting thoughts into words and slur their speech. They can understand what's being said, but may not be able to respond or communicate that they understand. However, with time, a person with Huntington's disease willbecome less responsive, more withdrawn and communicate little.
People with Huntington's disease can have problems with sexual relationships, particularly during the early stages of the condition. This is usually a loss of interest in sexor,less commonly, making inappropriate sexual demands.
The Huntington's Disease Association has more information about sexual problems (PDF, 193kb) associated with the condition.
In the later stages of Huntington's disease, the person will be totally dependent andneed full nursing care.
Death is usually from a secondary cause, such as pneumonia or another infection.
You may find the end of life care guide useful if you're caring for someone who's dying, or if you want to plan your end of life care in advance.
Juvenile Huntington's disease is an uncommon form of the condition that can occur in people younger than 20 years old. Common signs include:
Huntington's disease is an inherited condition that damages certain nerve cells in the brain.
The symptoms of Huntington's disease can include psychiatric problems and difficulties with behaviour, feeding, communication and movement.
Huntington's disease is caused by a faulty gene that runs in families.
If you have symptoms of Huntington's disease, your GP will refer you to a neurologist. Genetic testing can confirm a diagnosis if necessary.
There's currently no cure for Huntington's disease, but medication, including antidepressants, can help manage some of the symptoms.
Help is available to assist people with Huntington's disease in their day-to-day living. This might include physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.