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Huntington disease
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Overview
Huntington disease is a progressive disorder that causes brain cell (neuron) degeneration in certain areas of the brain. This results in uncontrolled movements, loss of intellectual abilities, and emotional disturbances. Symptoms typically appear between the ages of 35 and 44 years. People with Huntington disease most often live for 15 to 18 years after the condition appears. Huntington disease caused by mutations in the HTT gene and is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. Each child of a person with Huntington disease has a 50 percent (1 in 2) chance of inheriting the mutation.[1] There is also a less common, early-onset from that begins in childhood or adolescence, called juvenile Huntington disease.[2]
References
- Warby SC, Graham RK, Hayden MR. Huntington Disease. GeneReviews. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1305/. Accessed March 15, 2011.
- Huntington disease . Genetic Home Reference. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/huntington-disease . Accessed June 27, 2011.
Your Questions Answered
by the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center4 question(s) from the public on Huntington disease have been answered. See questions and answers. You can also submit a new question.
On this page
General Information
- Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Huntington disease. Click on the link to go to GHR and review the information.
- MedlinePlus, a Web site designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, provides more information about this topic. Click on the link to view this information.
- Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. Click on the link to view this information. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
- The National Human Genome Research Institute's (NHGRI) mission encompasses a broad range of studies aimed at understanding the structure and function of the human genome and its role in health and disease. Click on the link to view the information page on this topic.
- The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) collects and disseminates research information related to neurological disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
- The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is a federation of more than 130 nonprofit voluntary health organizations serving people with rare disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
- Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge. Click on the link to read information on this topic.
- PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Huntington disease. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
- The The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database contains genetics resources that discuss Huntington disease. Click on the link to go to OMIM and review these resources.
Insurance Issues
- The Social Security Administration has included this condition in their Compassionate Allowances Initiative. This initiative speeds up the processing of disability claims for applicants with certain medical conditions that cause severe disability. More information about Compassionate Allowances and applying for Social Security disability is available online.