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Huntington's Disease
Huntington’s disease is a hereditary disorder that destroys certain areas of the brain involved in intellect, emotion, and movement development. It is characterized by the loss of mental abilities; developing of emotional problems; and uncontrollable movement of the limbs and face.
237 Questions
What is CAG repeat testing for Huntington's disease?
CAG repeat testing for Huntington's disease involves analyzing a person's DNA to count the number of CAG (cytosine-adenine-guanine) repeats in the HTT gene. Individuals with 36 or more CAG repeats are at risk of developing Huntington's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor dysfunction, cognitive decline, and psychiatric symptoms. The test can be used for diagnostic purposes in symptomatic individuals or for predictive testing in those with a family history of the disease. It is crucial for genetic counseling and understanding potential disease progression.
Calculating the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF)
1. Starting at the top level, evaluate each range by asking "is EITHER the individual's symptom or severity OR level of functioning worse than what is indicated in the range description?"
2. Keep moving down the scale until the range that best matches the individual's symptom severity OR the level of functioning is reached, WHICHEVER IS WORSE.
3. Look at the next lower range as a double-check against having stopped prematurely. This range should be too severe on BOTH symptom a severity AND level of functioning. If it is, the appropriate range has been reached (continue with step 4). If not, go back to step 2 and continue moving down the scale.
4. To determine the specific GAF rating within the selected 10-point range, consider whether the individual is functioning at the higher or lower end of the 10-point range. For example, consider an individual who hears voices that do not influence his behavior (e.g., someone with long-standing Schizophrenia who accepts his hallucinations as part of his illness). If the voices occur relatively infrequently (once a week or less), a rating of 39 or 40 might be most appropriate. In contrast, if the individual hears voices almost continuously, a rating of 31 or 32 would be more appropriate.
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Multiaxial Assessment. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.(Fourth Ed. text revision, p. 33). Washington, D.C.
Can you get in the army if you have huntingtons disease?
No, individuals with Huntington's disease are generally not eligible to join the military. The condition is a progressive neurological disorder that can significantly impair physical and cognitive functioning, which is incompatible with military service requirements. Additionally, medical evaluations during the enlistment process typically disqualify those with hereditary or chronic conditions that could affect performance.
Is huntingtons chorea the same as huntingtons disease?
Yes. The involuntary movements of Huntington's were thought to resemble a kind of dance (chorea - like choreograph).
Is huntington disease due to heredity?
Yes, Huntington's Disease is a hereditary condition. Huntington's is caused by a faulty gene, so if, say, the mother of a son has it, the son has a 50% chance of getting it too.
How is Huntington's disease involved with witchcraft?
HD is not involved with witchcraft. At one time people may have believed that the jerky uncontrolled movements (known as chorea) were a curse placed on the person.
Properly called Huntington's Disease, it is an inherited condition that causes deterioration of the central nervous system. You can find more information at the website of the Huntington's Disease Society of America.
How common is Huntington's Disease in the UK?
Officially 6.7 per 100,000. However, it is thought to be much higher - double this.
Will every individual who inherits the allele for Huntington's disease develop the disease?
Yes, Huntington's disease is autosomal dominant with high penetrance. Every individual who inherits the allele gets the disease.
Why does Huntington's disease lead to death?
HD is a progressive deterioration of the central nervous system. While it MAY be the direct cause of death from the nervous system failing, it is usually the indirect cause. Persons with advanced HD are more prone to falls, due to impaired muscle control, and likely to develop problems with swallowing (choking). Deaths may be attributed to pneumonia, due to a debilitated condition, or suicide resulting from depression, and changes in emotional states common to HD. Please visit the website for the Huntington's Disease Society of America for more information.
This famous folk singer died of a disease called huntington's chorea or huntington's disease?
Is huntington's disease more common in male or female offspring?
huntingtons disease is equally common in both males and females
What activities for huntingtons disease patients?
No one answer, as there is no one Huntington's patient. It will depend on the degree that the disease has progressed, and how the patient is affected, their mental state, etc. Activities should be within their physical abilities, and something they enjoy. My wife is in her 60's, and has taken swimming lessons, enjoys going out on the lake in our boat, and attending NASCAR races. I make sure she has a good lifejacket, and take it slow. She also enjoys flower gardening. You can get more information at the website for the Huntington's Disease Society of America.
Is huntington's disease dominate or recessive?
It is autosomal dominant, meaning it is not on a sex chromosome (X or Y).
If one of your parents has the disease and they are heterozygote for the disease than there is a 50% chance of inheriting the disease yourself.
If one of your parents has the disease and is homozygote for the disease (very unlikely!) then you will 100% inherit Huntington's Disease.
If both of your parents have the disease and are both heterozygotes for the disease then there is a 75% chance that you will have the disease.
Can a baby have symptoms of Huntington's disease?
There is a rare from of HD known as Juvenile Huntington's. Unsure of the youngest patient with it, though.
What part of the body does Huntington's disease affect?
All parts are affected in some manner, since it is a disease that affects the brain.
What is the role of GABA in huntington's disease?
GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that plays a role in the basal ganglia of the brain. The basal ganglia is related with movement and coordinates with the cerebellum in order to control our movements. GABA neurotransmitters are destroyed in Huntington's disease, which causes an imbalance in motions because of the decreased inhibitory neurotransmitters. This causes the involuntary movements that are characteristic of Huntington's.
How do people get Huntington's Disease?
HD is a genetic disease- you do not "catch it" from anyone. But is is inherited from a parent, just as you inherit hair color. One of the parents has a defective gene, which causes them to develop HD. If one of their children inherits that gene, they will also develop HD. However, if they do NOT inherit that gene, they cannot develop HD, and cannot pss it to their children.
How many people are effected by Huntington's Disease?
how many people are affected by parkinson's disease?
Huntington's disease (know as HD) is a fatal neurological disease. It results from genetically programmed degeneration of brain cells in certain areas of the brain.
It is a brain disorder usually appearing in mid-life but it can also strike in teenage years. HD results in emotional disturbance, uncontrolled movements, and loss of intellectual ability. A faulty gene causes this disease. The faulty gene runs in families. The faulty gene is passed from parent to child through the mutation of a normal gene. Whether one child inherits the gene will have no bearing on whether other children in the family will inherit the gene. If you have one parent with Huntington's disease, you have a 1 in 2 chance of inheriting the faulty gene. A person who has HD usually first develops symptoms that seem out of character.
Early symptoms include:
- Mood swings
- Short-term memory problems
- Mood changes
- Mild tremor
- Clumsiness
- Depression
- Lack of concentration
- Irritability
- Anti-social behaviour
- Trouble driving a car
- Increasing difficulty learning new things
Concentrating or focusing on intellectual tasks becomes more difficult as the disease progresses; symptoms of the disease worsen over time. Eventually a person with HD may have difficulty feeding and swallowing. Scientists are still researching how the faulty gene causes the disease. At this time (2011-03-20), there is no known way to reverse or stop the course of HD. However, research continues and in recent years scientists have made a number of breakthroughs in this area. At this time, HD is generally fatal within 20 years of symptoms first appearing, but I think that future research will bring a more positive prognosis.
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Who are famous people with Huntington's disease?
Woody Guthrie and Catfish Hunter who is a hall of fame pitcher.
Is Huntington's disease an example of polygenic inheritance?
No.
It is caused by versions of a single gene on the short arm of chromosome 4. This gene contains a region in which the bases CAG repeat. In people without the disease, there may be about 11 to 34 repeats; if there are more than about 42 in either copy of the gene, Huntington's disease will set in. The more repeats, the earlier the onset.
