Here are all of the articles in the HD Basics category.
Stages-of-HD People with Huntington’s disease (HD) follow a path of disease progression once symptoms begin. While patients can remain highly functional in the first years of the disease, independence gives way as symptoms get worse. This article discusses the ways in which HD symptoms change from one stage to the next, the degree to which [...]
Huntington’s disease (often abbreviated “HD”) was first described in medical literature in 1872 by Dr. George Huntington, a physician from Long Island, New York. The disease affects men and women alike, occurring at a rate of about one in every 10,000 in most Western countries. People with HD need dedicated care and support from their loved ones, which makes the number of lives touched by the disease even greater.
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Huntington’s disease (HD), an inherited neurodegenerative disorder, damages specific areas of the brain, resulting in movement difficulties as well as cognitive and behavioral changes. HD is often characterized by the motor symptoms that it causes. Huntington’s disease (HD), an inherited neurodegenerative disorder, damages specific areas of the brain, resulting in movement difficulties as well as [...]
Behavioral-Symptoms-of-HD Huntington’s Disease (HD), an inherited neurodegenerative disease, damages specific areas of the brain, resulting in movement difficulties as well as cognitive and behavioral changes. Behavioral changes are a characteristic feature of HD and are often the most distressing aspect of the condition for individuals and families dealing with HD. Although there is a great [...]
Cognitive-Symptoms-of-HD Huntington’s Disease (HD), an inherited neurodegenerative disorder, damages specific areas of the brain, resulting in movement difficulties as well as cognitive and behavioral changes. The term “cognitive” refers to tasks of the brain that involve knowing, thinking, remembering, organizing, and judging. Certain changes in cognitive abilities are characteristic of HD and can significantly impact [...]
Although records of symptoms have been traced as far back as the Middle Ages, it was not until the late 1800s that physician George Huntington first documented the hereditary nature of the disease that bears his name. It was the late onset and hereditary character that distinguished HD from other diseases with similar symptoms. With so many recent breakthroughs in human genome research, we now know quite a bit about the genetic basis of Huntington’s disease. Having a working familiarity with the basic genetics of HD is key to understanding the inheritance and expression of the disease.
-S.Jourin, 4-05-05 Print PDF
Click on the link below to hear an audio recording of this article: Juvenile Huntington’s Disease Juvenile HD is a form of Huntington’s disease that affects children and teenagers. Like the adult form of the disease, juvenile HD is hereditary in nature. Because of its hereditary character and early age of onset, a child with [...]