Q: Which doctor should I consult for Huntington’s disease?
A: You should consult a neurologist for Huntington’s disease. He may refer you to a geneticist to diagnose the condition. Further treatment may require an integrated approach of a neurologist, psychologist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist and others depending on the symptoms.
Q: Does the child always inherit Huntington’s disease from the parent?
A: No, the child has a 50% chance of inheriting the condition. If he is lucky enough that he falls in the safer 50%, he will neither suffer from the condition nor pass it on to the next generations. There are some cases, that the child may inherit a milder form of the condition. Therefore, he may not suffer from any symptoms, but there is a chance that he can pass it on to the next generation.
Q: How long do patients with Huntington disease live?
A: If the disease is present in adulthood the patients will usually live for about 15 to 20 years after signs and symptoms begin.
However, if the disease appears at younger age it is called Juvenile Huntington disease and it progress more quickly than the adult-onset form. These affected individuals usually live 10 to 15 years after signs and symptoms appear.
Q: If I have Huntington’s disease what are the chances that my child will get the disease?
A: Huntington''s disease is an inherited disease from either one or both parents. If both parents have the gene the chances are all children will have the disease but in most instances only one parent carries the HD gene and then the chance getting the disease is 50%.
Q: Is new research available that will cure Huntington’s disease in the near future?
A: Yes, there could be an eventual cure for Huntington’s Disease. Experiments on mice are showing ways to lower the production of mutated Huntington protein. This breakthrough will not only slow the progress of the disease but also improve symptoms that have already appeared and eventually extend the patient lifespan.
In 2013, a new ground-breaking clinical human drug trial was announced in Vancouver. The new drug has the potential to turn off the gene that causes Huntington’s disease.
