Condition Lookup

Start typing to search for a specific condition, or select a specialty to see all of its conditions

Sub-Category:

Huntington Disease Dementia

Specialty: Mental Health and Psychology

Category: Adult

Sub-category: Neurocognitive Disorders

Symptoms:
memory loss; difficulty planning or organizing; mood swings; impulsive behavior; movement abnormalities (chorea); depression

Root Cause:
Progressive neurodegeneration caused by a mutation in the HTT gene leading to abnormal accumulation of huntingtin protein.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Genetic testing for the HTT mutation, neuroimaging (e.g., MRI or CT scans), and cognitive assessments.

Treatment:
Supportive care including psychotherapy, occupational therapy, and medications for symptom management. No cure exists.

Medications:
Antipsychotics (e.g., olanzapine ), antidepressants (e.g., sertraline ), and tetrabenazine (for chorea).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 5-10 per 100,000 individuals; inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of Huntington’s disease.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Progressive and fatal; life expectancy is 10-30 years after symptom onset.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe cognitive and motor impairments, aspiration pneumonia, and complete dependence on caregivers.