Huntington's disease also causes a decline in thinking and reasoning skills, including memory, concentration, judgment, and ability to plan and organize. Huntington's disease brain changes lead to alterations in mood, especially depression, anxiety, and uncharacteristic anger and irritability.
Frustration, Irritability, and Anger
Your loved one with HD may become easily upset, angry, and stuck on an action or idea. It is important to remember that these outbursts of anger are commonly the result of HD, and the person with HD may not understand that you are trying to help them.
Early symptoms
memory lapses. depression – including low mood, a lack of interest in things, and feelings of hopelessness. stumbling and clumsiness. mood swings, such as irritability or aggressive behaviour.
During the early stages of HD, irritability, depression, anxiety and aggression are common behavior symptoms. In the later stages, individuals tend to be less irritable and aggressive, as apathy and a lack of concern become more pronounced.
HD patients present a broad range of psychological disturbances such as cognitive rigidity, mood disturbances, lack of empathy and breakdowns of social relationships that might also manifest even before the onset of motor dysfunction (Marvel and Paradiso, 2004).
People with Huntington's disease may sometimes seem uncaring and thoughtless. Their apparent disregard for the emotional needs of a partner can be hurtful, especially when it contrasts with a formerly loving relationship; the natural tendency is for the partner to feel slighted.
Impaired social functioning is a key feature of Huntington's disease (HD). In addition to motor limitations that prevent social participation (e.g., fall risk, driving cessation), personality changes caused by cognitive and psychiatric decline alter social functioning capacity in people with HD.
Weight loss can make symptoms worse and weaken the patient's immune system, making them more vulnerable to infections and other complications. Huntington's disease itself is not usually fatal, but it can lead to choking, pneumonia, or other infections that can lead to death.
The bottom line. Being physically and mentally active in life is good for everyone, and particularly for those at risk of developing HD, because it might affect symptom onset.
Although not directly related to HD, stress is nevertheless related to the progression of the disease because it adds to the neurodegeneration that is already taking place. Chronic stress can alter nerve cells, brain structure, and brain function.
It affects approximately six people per 100,000 across Europe, North America, and Australia, with lower documented prevalence in Asia (4). Common emotional and behavioral difficulties among persons with HD include depression, anxiety, irritability-anger, aggression, perseveration, disinhibition, and apathy (5–14).
during the time surrounding death. For the purpose of this fact sheet, the beginning of end-of-life in HD is determined as the stage when the person affected has little control over movement, is bedbound, unable to communicate, unable to eat and drink on his/her own and experiences severe chorea or extreme rigidity.
The most painful conditions in Huntington's, said Achterberg, are limb pain, headache, abdominal pain and fractures. “I think we should do more work in validation of pain tools, including observational pain instruments,” he said. “And for clinicians, I suggest you be especially aware of abdominal pain.”
Symptoms of HD typically appear in middle-aged people (adult HD). They can also appear in children (juvenile HD), but this is rare. The disease gets worse over time.
Categorizing Psychiatric Issues in HD
The first consists of mental illnesses which are common in the general population and are readily recognized by physicians, especially major depression, which has been estimated to affect 40% of people with HD at some point during their illness.
Foods to avoid for Huntington's disease
These foods include: Raw fruits. Stringy vegetables. Tough, crusty breads.
When alcohol becomes a coping mechanism for Huntington's disease, that's when it becomes a problem. “With any neurodegenerative or medical disease, drinking a lot can certainly affect your balance and your gait,” says Dr. Oguh.
Huntington's disease is caused by a faulty gene. Cells in parts of the brain are very sensitive to the effects of the faulty gene. This makes them function poorly and eventually die. A parent with the Huntington's disease gene has one good copy of the gene and one faulty copy.
Pneumonia and heart disease are the two leading causes of death for people with HD.
Conclusion The most primary cause of death in HD is aspiration pneumonia.
Huntington's strengthens the immune system during most fertile years allowing them to produce more offspring. Symptoms associated with Huntington's occur later in life, after peak reproductive age.
Mood and behavioral changes
Some patients may experience hallucinations and delusions that can severely affect their day-to-day interactions. Living with Huntington's can induce feelings of anxiety, depression, apathy, and frustration.
If you hold a driving licence and have symptoms caused by Huntington's disease, you're legally required to contact the DVLA. The DVLA will ask you for details of your doctor to seek further information. Many people are still allowed to drive, but this will be reviewed regularly.
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder that usually starts in mid-adult life. The clinical disease progresses to death over an average of 20 years.