You're usually only at risk of developing it if one of your parents has or had it. Both men and women can get it. If a parent has the Huntington's disease gene, there's a: 1 in 2 (50%) chance of each of their children developing the condition – affected children are also able to pass the gene to any children they have.
Although anyone can develop HD, it tends to run in people of European descent (having family members who came from Europe). But the main factor is whether you have a parent with HD. If you do, you have a 50% chance of also having the disease.
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.
Symptoms of Huntington's disease usually develop between ages 30 and 50, but they can appear as early as age 2 or as late as 80. The hallmark symptom of Huntington's disease is uncontrolled movement of the arms, legs, head, face and upper body.
There have been reports that juvenile onset Huntington's chorea is almost always inherited from the father, and that late-onset Huntington's chorea is inherited more often from the mother than from the father.
Both men and women can get it. If a parent has the Huntington's disease gene, there's a: 1 in 2 (50%) chance of each of their children developing the condition – affected children are also able to pass the gene to any children they have.
Myth 4: HD can skip generations. Fact: The HD gene mutation never skips a generation.
For individuals who are at risk of carrying the HD gene, testing can be performed before symptoms occur. Information from brain scans such as computed tomography (CT), electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be part (magnetic resonance imaging) and may be reviewed as part of the diagnosis.
It is important to understand that while people are born with the mutated gene for HD, in most cases they will not develop the symptoms until later in life. Therefore someone can be without symptoms or presymptomatic for a number of years.
Although stress does not play a direct role in the onset and development of Huntington´s disease (HD) itself, it does have an influence on the course of the disease.
Prevention of Huntington's disease
Because Huntington's is a genetic disease, you can't do anything to prevent it if you have inherited it. If you have a history of Huntington's disease in your family, you may wish to have genetic counseling before having children of your own.
With dominant diseases like Huntington's Disease (HD), it is usually pretty easy to figure out risks. Generally if one parent has it then each child has a 50% chance of having it too. And if neither parent has the disease, then odds are that none of the kids will either. Huntington's is a dominant genetic disease.
Each child of a parent with HD has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the HD gene. A child who does not inherit the HD gene will not develop the disease, and generally, they cannot pass it on to their children or other future generations.
Currently, there are no treatments available for Huntington's disease that change the course of the disease.
In order to receive a diagnosis, you will need to obtain a referral from your GP to see a Huntington's disease specialist. The initial consultation may include: Discussion of family history. Your current knowledge of Huntington's disease.
Typically, HD progresses for 10 to 30 years. Most people with HD die from complications related to the disease. There is no cure for HD, and current medications can only relieve its symptoms, not slow or delay the progression. If Huntington's disease runs in your family, you may want to have genetic testing.
Stage 1: Preclinical Stage
In the Preclinical stage, an individual will start to develop mild symptoms, such as anxiety, unusual irritability, poor coordination, difficulty learning new things and issues with making decisions.
Symptoms typically emerge from age 30 to 50, but also can develop in children and older adults. Late-onset Huntington's, characterized by some as emerging after age 5o and others after age 60, is thought to be less severe than earlier onset Huntington's.
A blood test to check for the Huntington's disease gene can confirm if you have the condition.
If you're older than 18 and you're not sure of your family's genetic history (or you know family members who've had Huntington's disease), it may be a good idea to consider getting the genetic test if you're showing symptoms.
The genetic risk to children
A person with a Huntington's disease affected parent has a 50% risk of having inherited the Huntington's disease gene. Each child of that person has a 25% chance of inheriting the condition. But this '25%' only applies while the person is untested.
Typical age at onset of symptoms is in the 40s1. The cause is a gene mutation in chromosome 4 with a CAG trinucleotide repeat of 35 or greater2. Repeat size can expand or contract with the next generation.