#Theine hundincton desease how to

#Theine hundincton desease how to

It may be worth speaking to a doctor about your risks and how to make the best decision for your family if you’re considering having children. If your parents have HD, but you don't, there can still be a risk of passing it down to your own children. In some cases, all children of a couple affected by HD may develop it as well. However, if they do have the gene, the odds of you developing HD tend to go up. HD can occur in about 1% to 3% of people with no family history of the disease, so the odds of both parents having the disease aren't too common. It may keep nerve cells strong and prevent them from self-destructing.īecause most cases of HD happen in a person’s 30s and 40s, most people who want to have kids have already had them before the symptoms of the disease begin to take effect. What we do know about huntingtin is that it probably plays a key role in nerve cell health. Huntingtin's exact purpose is not fully understood, but it's typically found in the brain, as well as in body tissue. This gene is generally responsible for telling your brain to create huntingtin, an essential protein. The Gene That Causes Huntington's DiseaseĪ mutation in the HTT gene normally causes HD. Because HD normally causes your nerve cells to break down, a decline in physical and cognitive abilities typically follows suit and may lead to other health conditions. It tends to be genetic, and it usually develops in a person's 30s or 40s, but it may develop even earlier than that. Huntington’s Disease, also known as HD, is a rare disease that typically causes nerve cells to decay over time, often leading to a decrease in all brain functions. If you’ve received an HD diagnosis or are a caregiver for someone with Huntington’s Disease, online or in-person therapy can be an important form of support. Its symptoms can impact cognition, movement, and mental health. HD is typically caused by a mutation in the HTT gene, which can impact the production of an essential protein called huntingtin.

However, those who don’t have a parent with HD may still develop it. In the case of Huntington’s Disease (HD), whether your parents have already developed the illness can directly determine if you will, too. Genetics can play an important factor in many diseases.