What is Huntington's Disease

Huntington's Disease (HD) is an inherited brain disorder which results in the loss of both mental capability and physical control. Over a period 10-20 years the person with HD progressively loses the ability to think, speak and walk. Huntington's Disease transcends the boundaries of race, sex and ethnic group.

Facts About HD

Early symptoms may include depression mood swings, forgetfulness and lack of coordination. As the disease progresses, personality changes may appear, along with decreased mental capability, slurred speech and memory loss

Presently, there is no effective treatment or cure. Although medications can give partial relief for some of the symptoms, no drug can stop the disease's progression. Children as young as two and adults as old as 80 have developed Huntington's Disease, although symptoms usually appear between the ages of 30 and 50.

Each child of a parent who has HD has a 50-50 chance of inheriting the disorder and is said to be at-risk.

It is estimated that 1 in 8,000 people in the U.S. have active cases of HD. More than 125,000 people in the U.S. are known to be at risk, and many more stay hidden because of potential discrimination.