Huntington's Disease Research Paper

The aim of this research is to investigate the autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease called Huntington’s Disease (HD). This literary review will give a better understanding of how the disease affects the brain and body and what signs and symptoms to watch out for from the early onset to the later stages of Huntington’s Disease. People usually develop the signs of Huntington’s Disease when they are around 20 to 40 years old. The disease has a possibility of manifesting earlier than 20 years old, which is known as Juvenile Huntington’s Disease. This disease is inherited, the children have a fifty percent chance of contracting the DNA mutation from their parents. After reading through many articles, books, websites trying to understand

They become completely dependent on the care of another person and eventually pass away due to inability to swallow and pneumonia among other illnesses. Once the body begins to show the signs of the disease, chorea movements, loss of full function of most of the motor skills, difficulty swallowing, psychotic breakdowns, the patient has already had the early onset for several years.

What is the autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease Huntington’s Disease? How does this disease affect the patient throughout their lifespan? In 1872 George Huntington, a young medical doctor discovered Huntington’s Disease as an inherited disorder. He published a paper On Chorea, better known today as Huntington’s Chorea. Huntington’s Chorea is defined as involuntary erratic muscle contractions. Dr. Huntington’s research helped pave the way for future doctors. In 1993 a group of scientists discovered the mutated gene responsible for the cause of Huntington’s Disease (Roos). Nearly one hundred years between these two different studies and we can see how much we have learned in just that small amount of time. Huntington’s Disease has been recognized as an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease, the neurons in the brain become damaged and are unable to repair,

Today there are several ways to the tested for the disease, MRI scan would show signs in the brain, a DNA test is available to patients to check their CAG count, CT scan would show brain loss in later onset, these are just a few examples. He also explains, “The diagnosis of HD was usually based on family history and the appearance of motor (i.e., choreic) symptoms. However, cognitive impairment, motor symptoms, and behavioral and emotional changes differ in time of onset and severity,” this shows us that even though each patient may experience different onset signs and times of developing onset of the disorder, they all experience some or most of these symptoms at some point in time (Brandt).

Per an article on MedlinePlus, Huntington’s Disease, parents pass the gene to their children, “If one of your parents has Huntington disease, you have a 50% chance of getting the gene. If you get the gene from your parents, you can pass it on to your children,