George Huntington
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited disorder associated with degeneration of nerve cells in parts of the brain controlling movement (Bird, 2003). This disease was first known as chorea (from a Greek word – choreia, which means dancing) which described how people moved in an uncontrolled dancelike movement. The name, Huntington’s disease, came from its founder George Huntington, who discovered that HD is a genetic disease, and that there is a 50% chance of inheriting the disease if one’s parent has it (Knowles, 2007).
According to the World Health Organisation (2012), about 5 to 7 people per 100,000 are affected by HD in the western countries. HD typically begins between the ages of 30 to 45. However, there are cases of early onset of this disease. Children as early as the age of 2 may develop juvenile form of HD and rarely live to adulthood.
Some symptoms of HD are losing the ability to walk, talk, think, reason and retain information. Individuals with HD are also easily depressed and may experience low concentration and focus. Hence, individuals with HD will be dependent on their caregivers for daily tasks as the disease progress to the later stage of HD (Quarrell, 2008).
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Huntington’s yet. Symptoms, physical and psychological, can be treated with drugs. There are also other alternative therapies to lessen the deterioration of the body and help people with HD to function for daily activities.
huntington' s disease 