Huntington’s disease: Causes, Symptoms, Daignosis, Prevention and Treatment

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Huntingtons Disease
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Huntingtons Disease

• Huntingtons disease  is a disease which
  further results in the slow loss of affected
  brain cells. It is an inherited condition that
  typically begins in adulthood.At present time,
  typical Huntingtons disease is a lethal
  condition. Huntingtons disease is identified by
  involuntary movements, dementia and psychological
  disturbances that worsen as the disease becomes
  chronic.

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Symptoms of Huntingtons disease

• The symptoms of Huntingtons disease varies from
  person to person. Not everyone with Huntingtons
  disease has the same type of symptoms or develops
  every symptom. The symptoms tend to progress with
  time and worsen over time.If Huntingtons
  disease does not run in your family, at times it
  can take a while for it to be diagnosed. This is
  because some of the early symptoms can often be
  overlooked or attributed to other problems - for
  example, subtle changes in your personality or
  mood swings.The symptoms of Huntingtons
  disease can be grouped into three main areas
• Problems with movement
• Problems with cognition
• Mood and behavioral problems

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What is the treatment of Huntingtons disease?

• At present there is no cure for Huntingtons
  disease. Also, there is no treatment that has
  been found to delay the onset of symptoms or to
  delay the progression of symptoms. So, treatment
  is focused on trying to control symptoms as much
  as possible when they do develop.

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Treatments with medicines

• There are a number of medicines that can be used
  to help treat the disease. A cluster of medicines
  known as benzodiazepines is often used first.
  Examples of these medicines can be clonazepam and
  diazepam.Other medicines, including
  tetrabenazine, can also be used. Still, all of
  these medicines can have possible side-effects.
  For example, they can lead to slowing down of
  your movements (bradykinesia), stiffness or
  rigidity, depression or sedation.If you are
  having some problems with bradykinesia and stiff
  or rigid limbs, a cluster of medicines called
  dopamine agonists may be helpful. Another
  medicine called levodopa is an alternative.

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Treatments with medicines
Continue

• These medicines are commonly used to
  treat Parkinson's disease where there is similar
  slowing of movements and rigidity.If you
  develop depression, antidepressant medicines can
  be helpful. Medicines are also available to treat
  some other mental health problems that may be
  linked with Huntingtons disease.

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Other treatments

• Most people with Huntingtons disease have a
  team of specialists who work with them. The team
  members can comprise of a specialist of brain,
  nerve and muscle problems (a neurologist),
  a psychiatrist and a genetic counselor.You can
  also be referred to a physiotherapist for help
  with exercises for your balance and exercises to
  help you move around more easily. An occupational
  therapist can be able to help you with the
  adaptations that you will need to make your
  day-to-day life easier.For example, they can
  help with adjustment at your home such as
  wheelchair access, rails and changes to your
  bedroom and bathroom.

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Other treatments
Continue

• A speech and language therapist may be able to
  help with speech or swallowing difficulties. They
  may be able to teach you different ways of
  communicating.You can be referred to a
  dietician if you lose a lot of weight. Dietician
  can advise about food that may be easier for you
  to eat because they involve less
  chewing.Sometimes swallowing problems can mean
  that you need to consider having a nasogastric
  tube fitted. This is a tube which passes through
  your nose to your stomach so that food can be
  delivered to your stomach without you having to
  swallow.

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