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Huntington's Disease - College Essay

Huntington's Disease

In 1872 Dr. George Huntington published his account of what he called "hereditary chorea". This is the first description of the disease that now bears his name. (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease that results in progressive motor, emotional, and cognitive impairments. A terminal disease, it is characterized by chorea (uncontrollable jerking and writhing movements) and gradual worsening cognitive and emotional control caused by the destruction of groups of cells in the brain called basal ganglia. is found in all races all over the world, but is more prevalent in Northern European populations when compared to African or Asian. The average age of onset is between the ages of ...

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, but recently all that has changed. In 1993 the gene that causes HD was discovered and from that great progress has been made. While no cure yet exists, there is a large push in research to develop one. In most cases Huntington's patients can maintain independence for several years after the onset of symptoms. Several treatments are now available or being tested for effectiveness, and the Huntington's patient has several options open to him/her.
The initial motor symptoms of Huntington disease usually remain unnoticed by the afflicted person, but these may include little uncontrollable jerks and twitches. The jerking movements usually become stronger and more intense over time and eventually begin to interfere with normal movement coordination. This may result in unsteady walking and falls due to the loss of a sense of balance. Motor abnormalities that may be noticed include:
• Random eye movements
• Chorea (involuntary dance-like movements)
• Dystonia (random and ...

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 8/20/2004 10:34:02 AM
Category: Health & Medicine
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 772
Pages: 3

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