The symptoms and characteristics of juvenile Huntington’s disease.
What symptoms are common to both juvenile HD and adult-onset HD?
Both the early- and adult-onset forms of HD are characterized by what is called dementia, a progressive loss of mental function. Many individuals also seem to undergo personality changes. Some changes, such as increased irritability and bad temper outbursts, are sometimes due to the difficulties of dealing with the disease rather than actual clinical symptoms. Often, people with HD experience frustration when realizing that they can no longer do things they once could. Sometimes, however, these personality changes are a more direct result of the disease. Such symptoms may be alleviated with medication.
Both juvenile and adult forms of the disease result in neurological damage that causes severe movement disorders, although the movement problems vary greatly between the two forms. Individuals with either form experience difficulties with swallowing and speaking. However, adult-onset HD is normally characterized by dance-like chorea, while juvenile HD more often results in rigidity and stiffness of muscles.
For an explanation of these differences click here.
Last Modified: 6-9-04
An educational product of HOPES, not to be used in place of medical care. For more information about HOPES, click on the Logo.
To contact HOPES with comments or questions, click here.
