Conditions & Treatments | Huntington's Disease

What Is Huntington's Disease?

Huntington's Disease (HD) is a progressive, genetic disorder that causes the breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. This deterioration leads to physical, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms that worsen over time. HD typically manifests in mid-adulthood, but symptoms can appear at any age. The disease is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, meaning that each child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the condition.

What Are the Symptoms of Huntington’s Disease?

The symptoms of Huntington's Disease can vary widely among individuals, but they generally fall into three categories: motor, cognitive, and psychiatric.

Motor Symptoms:

Involuntary jerking or writhing movements (chorea)
Muscle problems, such as rigidity or muscle contracture (dystonia)
Slow or abnormal eye movements
Impaired gait, posture, and balance
Difficulty with speech or swallowing

Cognitive Symptoms:

Difficulty organizing, prioritizing, or focusing on tasks
Lack of flexibility or the tendency to get stuck on a thought, behavior, or action (perseveration)
Lack of impulse control, leading to outbursts, acting without thinking, and sexual promiscuity
Problems with learning new information

Psychiatric Symptoms:

Depression, which can include feelings of irritability, sadness, or apathy
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, characterized by recurrent, intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors
Mania, which can cause elevated mood, overactivity, and impulsive behavior
Bipolar disorder, which includes alternating episodes of depression and mania
Hallucinations, seeing or hearing things that are not based in reality

UR Medicine's Treatments for Huntington's Disease

At UR Medicine, we offer a comprehensive and compassionate approach to the diagnosis and management of Huntington's Disease. Our multidisciplinary team includes neurologists, genetic counselors, psychiatrists, physical therapists, and other specialists who work together to provide personalized care for each patient.

Our services include:

Genetic Counseling: We provide genetic testing and counseling to help patients and their families understand the inheritance pattern and implications of HD.
Symptom Management: Our team focuses on managing the motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms of HD to improve the quality of life for our patients.
Support Services: We offer support groups, educational resources, and counseling services to help patients and their families cope with the challenges of HD.
Research and Clinical Trials: UR Medicine is at the forefront of HD research, offering patients access to the latest clinical trials and experimental therapies.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing Huntington's Disease involves a combination of clinical evaluation, family history, and genetic testing. Our diagnostic process includes:

Clinical Evaluation: A thorough neurological examination to assess motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms.
Family History: Reviewing the patient's family history to identify patterns of inheritance.
Genetic Testing: A blood test to identify the presence of the abnormal gene responsible for HD. Genetic testing can confirm the diagnosis and provide information about the likelihood of passing the gene to offspring.

Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial in managing Huntington's Disease. If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms or have a family history of HD, we encourage you to seek evaluation and support from our expert team at UR Medicine.

Treatments

While there is currently no cure for Huntington's Disease, various treatments can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Our treatment options include:

Medications: To control movement disorders, psychiatric symptoms, and other complications. These may include antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants, and medications to reduce chorea.
Physical Therapy: To improve strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination. Physical therapists work with patients to develop personalized exercise programs.
Occupational Therapy: To help patients maintain independence in daily activities. Occupational therapists provide strategies and tools to manage tasks at home and work.
Speech Therapy: To address difficulties with speech and swallowing. Speech therapists offer exercises and techniques to improve communication and swallowing function.
Mental Health Care: To help patients with the emotional side of illness. Our team includes a neuropsychologist, social worker, and neuropalliative care specialists.

What Sets Us Apart?

UR Medicine is dedicated to providing exceptional care for patients with Huntington's Disease. Our team has received designation as a Center of Excellence from the Huntington’s Disease Society of America.

As founding members of the Huntington Study Group, we continue to stay on the forefront of new developments. As researchers, our team members have published widely in journals and books while winning numerous awards and appointments to advisory boards.

Our team combines all the needed experts for complete diagnosis and treatment, including board-certified adult neurologists, child neurologists with additional training in movement disorders, neuropalliative care specialists, neuropsychologists, nurses and nurse practitioners, and social workers.

We actively partner with clinical, education, and research partners of other divisions within the department of neurology, including the Palliative Care Division (to help patients deal with pain and the emotional side of illness).