Huntington's Disease: Unraveling its Mysteries
Huntington's is a progressive disorder of the brain that leads to uncontrollable movements, mental problems and cognitive decline. This is an inherited disease that slowly erodes the physical and mental capabilities of a person, typically during prime working years. The devastating effects of this disease are not limited to the affected individual, but affect the whole family. Huntington's Disease can give you a better understanding of the world complex neurodegenerative diseases.
What is Huntington’s Disease?
Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by genetic mutations which cause progressive brain damage. Around 3-7 per 100,000 Europeans are affected by the disease. People of Japanese, Chinese and African descent are less likely to develop the disease.
Signs and symptoms usually appear between 30 and 50 years old. The disease can appear earlier in life or at a later age. Motor control problems, cognitive impairment, and psychiatric disorders are all possible symptoms. The progression of this disease leads to a complete mental and physical decline over 10-20 years.
Huntington's Disease: Common causes
Huntington's is caused by a genetic defect. List:
- This is an autosomal-dominant disorder. A person only needs one defective copy of a gene in order to have the condition.
- This mutation is caused by a CAG triple nucleotide sequence. In people with Huntington’s disease, this segment appears more than normal.
- The disease tends to progress faster and earlier when there are more repeats.
Huntington's Disease Treatments
Huntington's Disease is not curable, but treatments are available to manage its symptoms. Current treatment options include
- Medication to treat movement disorders and mental conditions.
- Improve mobility with physical therapy and lower the chance of falling.
- Speech therapy can improve communication and swallowing issues.
- Palliative and supportive care includes counseling, support groups, palliative services, etc.
Expert opinions on Huntington's Disease
Experts say that although Huntington's is not curable, there are significant advances being made to understand the disease and develop potential treatments. Recent advances in neurobiology and genetics have led to new treatment options, according to Dr. Sarah Tabrizi.
Drugs that lower levels of harmful proteins produced by Huntington's gene are being tested in clinical trials . These treatments, if successful, could even slow down or stop the progression of Huntington's disease.
Prevention and Natural Remedies
Healthy lifestyles can be used to help people with Huntington’s manage symptoms and keep their ability for as long as they are able. Here are some tips:
- A balanced diet is important to maintain healthy weight and prevent malnutrition.
- Exercise regularly to improve your mood and strengthen your muscles.
- Stress reduction and adequate sleep can help to manage mental health symptoms.
- Social interaction is important for emotional wellbeing.
Huntington's is a neurodegenerative disease that can be debilitating and causes great suffering for the affected person as well as their family. The scientific community has made great strides towards understanding and treating the complex disorder, but there is still much to do. We can conquer this disease by pushing the limits of our understanding.
.