Recognize and Treat Huntingtons Disease

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Recognize and Treat Huntingtons Disease

Huntington's disease is a degenerative brain disorder that can cause physical and mental changes such as disturbances of thinking, talking and moving. Huntington disease can be caused by inherited from the parents of the patient.

Huntington's disease comes from the name of an American physician George Huntington who in 1872 wrote about the type of the disease. Even before Huntington disease has been known as Chorea, derived from Greek.

Although the actual symptoms of Huntington disease begins in infancy but most of the symptoms of the disease many perceived age between 35-44 years and about 6% of cases begin before age 21 years with akinetic-rigid syndrome. The symptoms usually begin at an early stage with poor memory, difficulty in decision making, mood changes, uncontrolled movements, difficulty walking, speaking and swallowing. Further consequences Huntington disease can cause hallucinations, without reason aggression, and paranoia.

More than 15,000 Americans have Huntington's disease. At least another 150,000 people have 50 percent risk of disease progression. For the initial treatment is usually a doctor will prescribe medication-related problems of emotional control and movement due to Huntington's disease but there is no treatment to stop or reverse the course of the disease.

Tetrabenazine is the first drug approved by FDA for use in the U.S.. Antipsychotic drugs, such as haloperidol, clonazepam, may help to alleviate choreic movements and helps control the hallucinations, delusions, and the explosion of violence. However, antipsychotics are not recommended for other forms of muscle contraction associated with Huntington's disease and should be with a low dose.


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