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Huntingtons Diseasee

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Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s Disease is a progressive neurological disease generally genetically inherited (Frank, 2014). This disease has an occurrence in all racial groups, however there is a greater concentration in those of northern European decent. This disease is rare, however is devastating to those afflicted with this disease as well as their family members (Novac & Tibrizi, 2010).
Less than a month ago a very close friend of mine revealed that his father has been officially diagnosed with Huntington’s disease and that he now feared for himself that we will eventually be diagnosed with this disease. His father started having symptoms 11 years ago, however was diagnosed 8 years ago. He also watched his grandmother suffer through Huntington’s Disease throughout his childhood. He recently became engaged and it was in my conversation with him that I thought it was too soon and he was too young that he revealed his family history with Huntington’s disease. It was his concern for his father and his own future was my motivation for searching Huntington’s Disease. I hoped to gain insight that I can share with my friend if even just to be a sounding board with a little more context.
History & Symptoms of Huntington’s Disease Huntington’s Disease is named for George Huntington who wrote and shared one of the most initial detailed accounts of the symptoms of this disease. Although other individuals have ben noted as documenting various aspects of what is now known as Huntington’s Disease, the disease is named after George Huntington. Initially Huntington’s Disease was called Huntington’s Chorea because it’ incident of being one of the first symptoms of Huntington’s Disease. More recently the name was changed to Huntington’s Disease due to the additional symptoms that present with this disease (Novac & Tibrizi, 2010). The majority of individuals with Huntington’s Disease develop and functional normally into early adulthood. The symptoms of initial onset of this disease is issues with movement disorders, such as chorea. Eventually symptoms progress to include behavioral and psychiatric issues such as dementia. The mean age for this onset is 40 and 94% of the population with Huntington’s Disease experience the initial symptoms in adulthood. Issues with memory and dementia can also present at the onset of the disease and gradually deteriorate with age (Vonsattel & DiFiglia, 1998). My friend explained to me that his dad’s symptoms started with cholera. His dad, having watched his own mother, was reluctant to seek treatment and ultimately a diagnosis until he last the ability to concentrate. Unfortunately his progression was at the point that at 45, approximately 5 years after diagnosis he lost his driver’s license. Considering that Huntington’s disease is genetically inherited, the diagnosis is not only a heavy weight the the patient, but also the patient’s family. The diagnosis of Huntington’s Disease means that the individual will be in need of full time care as the disease manifests and progresses. There is also the consideration of existing or future children and whether or not children of a parent that have been diagnosed should be genetically tested (Walker, 2007). Treatment & Prognosis of Huntington’s Disease The treatment options of Huntington’s Disease are centered around treating the symptoms. There are a plethora of medications available for treating the symptoms, however there are currently not any specific treatments available for slowing or stopping the progression of the disease. Treatment plans are mostly centered on maintaining quality of life which quickly deteriorates along with the progression of the disease (Roos, 2010). The average lifespan from diagnosis of Huntington’s Disease to death is 20 years. Death generally occurs due to pneumonia followed up by suicide. Suicide has a higher incident rate in those individuals diagnosed that witnessed a parent or other family member struggle through the disease (Roos, 2010). This fact I find particularly startling considering my friend has watched his grandmother and now his father go through this debilitating and demoralizing disease.
Journal Articles About Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s Disease - Walker, 2007 This article goes into depth about many aspects and facts related to Huntington’s Disease. There are a tremendous amount of statistical data surrounding the genetics around inheriting the disease. Although this article had a lot of data it was not dictated in a way that was applicable to exactly what I was searching for.
Huntington’s Disease - Novak & Tabrizi 2010 Similarly to the previous article this article went into depth about the genetic aspects of Huntington’s Disease. What I appreciated about this article is that is also specifically broke out what medication were used for treatment, why they were used and the potential side affects.
Huntington’s Disease: A Clinical Review - Roos, 2010 This article articulated the symptoms of the disease in a much more related and layman’s terms. This was excellent for me in getting a better understanding of this disease and what the onset of this disease presents itself. Of all the articles I read I absorbed more from this than any other.
Conclusion
Huntington’s Disease is a progressive neurological disease generally genetically inherited (Frank, 2014).When I chose this topic I had no idea to what degree the research would become so impactful. When I think of my close friend, whom I know from my United States Air Force Reserve unit, have watched his grandmother and now father suffer from this disease, my heart breaks. He has struggled, as many do with this genetic history, on whether or not to get genetically tested. I am thankful I chose this topic so that I can be there in a supportive role should he decide to get tested as he is getting married in the next year. Even if the only support I offer is that I understand his journey is not easy and not to give up.

References
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American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
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------------------------------------------------- (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
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Frank, S. (2014). Treatment of huntington's disease. Neurotherapeutics, 11(1), 153-60. doi:http://

dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13311-013-0244-z

Novak, M. U., & Tabrizi, S. J. (2010). Huntington's disease. BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.), 340c3109. doi:10.1136/bmj.c3109
Roos, R. (2010). Huntington’s disease: a clinical review. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 5(40), . Retrieved from http://www.ojrd.com/content/5/1/40
Vonsattel, J. P. G., & DiFiglia, M. (1998). Huntington disease. Journal of Neuropathology and

Experimental Neurology, 57(5), 369-84. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/

docview/229682567?accountid=458

Walker, F. (2007, January). Huntington's disease. The Lancet, 369(), 218-228. Retrieved from http://www.thelancet.com/action/doSearch? searchType=quick&searchText=huntington +disease&occurrences=all&journalCode=&searchScope=fullSite

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