Huntington's disease Health Article

Signs and tests

The doctor will perform a physical exam. The doctor may see signs of dementia and abnormal movements. Reflexes may be abnormal. The gait is often "prancing" and wide. Speech may be hesitant or enunciation poor.

A head CT scan may show loss of brain tissue, especially deep in the brain.

Other tests that may show signs of Huntington's disease include:

• Head MRI scan
• PET (isotope) scan of the brain

DNA marker studies may be available to determine if you carry the gene for Huntington's disease.

Treatment

There is no cure for Huntington's disease, and there is no known way to stop the disease from getting worse. The goal of treatment is to slow down the course of the disease and help the person function for as long and as comfortably as possible.

Medications vary depending on the symptoms. Dopamine blockers may help reduce abnormal behaviors and movements. Drugs like tetrabenazine and amantadine are used to try to control extra movements. There has been some evidence to suggest that co-enzyme Q10 may also help slow down the course of the disease.

Depression and suicide are common among persons with Huntington's disease. It is important for all those who care for a person with Huntington's disease to monitor for symptoms and treat accordingly.

There is a progressive need for assistance and supervision, and 24-hour care may eventually be needed.

Support Groups

Huntington's Disease Society of America - www.hdsa.org

Expectations (prognosis)

Huntington's disease causes progressive disability. Persons with this disease usually die within 15 to 20 years. The cause of death is often infection, although suicide is also common.

It is important to realize that the disease affects everyone differently. The number of CAG repeats may determine how the severity of symptoms. Persons with few repeats may have mild abnormal movements later in life and slow disease progression, while those with large repeats may be severely affected at a young age.

Complications

• Loss of ability to care for self
• Loss of ability to interact
• Injury to self or others
• Increased risk of infection
• Depression
• Death

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if symptoms of this disorder develop.