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Huntington disease

The chorea, or Huntington disease in practice meets rather seldom. In the European population the frequency of spread of this disease makes from 3rd to 7 people on 100 000, and at representatives of other races – 1 on 100 000. Болезнь Хантингтона - наследственная патология мозга

This hereditary pathology of a brain is shown by the random involuntary motions and a mimicry, the increasing uneasiness, destruction of mental health of the personality in the beginning and comes to an end with dementia, that is weak-mindedness.

Diagnosis of a disease of Huntington

At suspicion of Huntington disease the analysis of a clinical picture and collecting the family anamnesis of the patient is carried out. In most cases scanning of a brain allows to confirm or disprove the preliminary diagnosis unambiguously. If nevertheless there are certain doubts, conducting genetic testing is reasonable. This type of a research is extremely effective at adult patients whereas at children's age other diagnostic methods are applied preferential.

Symptoms of a disease of Huntington

It is noted that most often symptoms of a disease of Huntington are shown for the first time at the age of about 30 years though cases as earlier, and much later beginning are recorded. At the initial stage treat them as actually impulsive and uncontrolled movements, and opposite – decrease in a physical activity and a zatrudnennost of movements. Then there are problems with the speech, coordination of movements is broken.

With further development of a disease all muscular functions gradually decrease. Independent chewing and swallowing demand special efforts. One more characteristic symptom of a disease of Huntington at an average stage is uncontrolled grimacing which the frustration of a dream developing owing to frequent and chaotic movements of eyeglobes joins.

All listed functions affect mental capacities of the person adversely though in each case extent of such influence is especially individual. First of all the abstract thinking, ability of the person to estimate the acts, to behave adequately in society, to plan own activity suffers. Then problems with random access memory, emotional avarice and an egocentrism, obsessions and a depression, panic and even aggressive manifestations are noted.

Patients with Huntington disease gradually cease to recognize close people, they hypertrophy addictions (alcoholism, love to gamblings) and sexual requirements.

The last stage of a disease of Huntington is characterized by the fact that the patient loses ability to move independently. Death comes from cardiovascular diseases, pneumonia, etc. Снижение двигательной активности - один из первых симптомов болезни Хантингтона

Origins

In 1993 it was authentically established that Huntington disease develops owing to inborn genetic pathology. Protein хантингтин (which function is up to the end not established today) normal is present at an organism of the healthy person in a certain quantity. At the people having Huntington disease amount of this protein exceeds norm.

Modern researches prove that the probability of a course of a disease of Huntington at the children born from sick parents makes 50%.

Treatment of a disease of Huntington

The modern medicine is not able to offer specific treatment of a disease of Huntington yet though clinical testings of various techniques are held regularly. Therapy at this category of patients comes down to use of symptomatic means.

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