Huntington's Disease Facts
- Huntington's Disease (HD) is an inherited brain disorder.
- HD typically begins between the ages of 30-45, though onset may occur as early as the age of two or as late as the 70s.
- HD affects males and females equally and affects all ethnic and racial groups.
- Symptoms of HD can differ from person to person, even for members of the same family.
- Early symptoms may include depression, mood swings, forgetfulness, clumsiness, involuntary twitching, and lack of coordination.
- HD usually progresses over a 10-25 year period. Death follows from complications such as choking or infection.
- Affected individuals require assistance for daily care such as bathing and dressing.
- Each child of a person with HD has a 50% chance of inheriting the HD-causing gene mutation.
- More than 250,000 Americans have HD or are “at-risk” of inheriting the disease from an affected parent.
- A blood test can accurately determine whether an adult carries the HD-causing gene.
- A predictive genetic test can be done before an adult shows any signs of the disease. This is done as part of a program providing counseling and support. A positive predictive genetic test cannot predict when symptoms will begin for an individual.
