Huntington’s disease is an illness caused by a faulty gene in your DNA (the biological ‘instructions’ you inherit which tell your cells what to do). If you have Huntington’s, it affects your body’s nervous system – the network of nerve tissues in the brain and spinal cord that co-ordinate your body’s activities.
Huntington’s can cause changes with movement, learning, thinking and emotions. Once symptoms begin, the disease gradually progresses, so living with it means having to adapt to change, taking one day at a time.
Living with Huntington’s disease can be very challenging. Getting the right information and support is vital and we’re here to help.
Although there is, as yet, no cure, you can learn to manage symptoms more effectively to improve your quality of life.
Huntington’s disease is a genetic disease, which means if you have it, you inherited it from one or both of your parents. It is caused by a hereditary fault on a specific gene.
The symptoms of Huntington’s disease vary widely between people. Even people in the same family may be affected differently. However, changes usually affect three main areas: movement; cognitive and behaviour.
Juvenile Huntington’s is quite rare. Less than 10% of people with the disease will have Juvenile-onset. This can make dealing with it quite an isolating experience for you and your family, and meeting others in the same situation can help.
Although there is currently no cure, there are many ways to get help with the symptoms and challenges of living with Huntington’s disease.