What is Huntington’s disease, what are the symptoms, what’s the life expectancy, is it inherited and how is it treated?
Here's everything you need to know about the genetic condition, from the symptoms to the cure
HUNTINGTON'S disease affects around 12 people in every 100,000 - and can have a devastating impact on sufferers.
Here's everything you need to know about the genetic condition, from the symptoms to the cure.
What is Huntington's disease? Is it inherited?
The states that Huntington's disease is an inherited condition which damages brain cells.
It is caused by an inherited faulty gene, and can have a debilitating effect on people's lives by robbing them of their brain functions.
Over time, damage to brain cells can affect sufferers' behaviour, movement and thinking, including their judgement, perception and awareness.
Some have described it as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and motor neurone disease all rolled into one.
What are the symptoms of Huntington's disease?
Early on, Huntington's disease can result in personality and behaviour changes, mood swings, fidgeting and irritability - symptoms which are easy to overlook.
As the disease progresses, symptoms become more obvious - including uncontrollable jerky movements and drastic personality changes.
Eventually, the sufferer will be left in a vegetative state, with difficulties speaking and moving.
Late-stage sufferers eventually become dependent on care, before dying as a result of the condition.
What is the life expectancy for Huntington's disease sufferers?
Huntington's disease can affect both men and women with a family history of the disease.
Symptoms usually begin to appear during adulthood, with just 5-10 per cent of sufferers developing it before the age of 20.
From the point of the first symptoms appearing, Huntington's disease will usually take 10-25 years to progress and get worse.
Life expectancy is normally 20 years from the onset of symptoms, with secondary conditions like heart failure or pneumonia most often the cause of death.
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How is Huntington's disease treated?
There is currently no cure for Huntington's disease and no way for its progress to be slowed down or reversed.
Instead, sufferers can be supported with medication to manage some of the symptoms and therapy to help with speaking, communication and day-to-day living.
However, there is growing hope that a cure could be around the corner thanks to a breakthrough by UCL scientists.
Researchers found that an experimental drug, which is injected into the spinal fluid, safely lowered the levels of toxic protein in the brain.