Major Symptoms Of Huntington's Disease

Huntington's disease is an inherited degenerative brain condition caused by a faulty gene that causes parts of the brain to become damaged gradually. Huntington's causes dramatic life changes in afflicted individuals, and there is currently no cure or way to prevent it from worsening. However, there are treatment and support options that can improve a patient's quality of life. These treatments are specialized to address the specific symptoms of Huntington's disease, which can be categorized into mental health, behavior, movement, and communication problems. The symptoms typically begin to present between thirty and fifty, and once they begin, they worsen with time. Get familiar with these symptoms now.

Chorea

Chorea refers to abnormal and involuntary movements that are one of the defining characteristics of Huntington's disease. These movements are often brief, abrupt, irregular, and unpredictable, which can further cause mental distress and anxiety in patients. Typically, patients with milder cases of Huntington's disease may present this symptom by appearing fidgety or clumsy. However, more severe and progressive cases may exhibit extreme, wild, and even violent movements. This symptom can affect many body parts, not just the appendages, and can also interfere with speech, posture, gait, and even swallowing. It typically subsides during sleep, but it can worsen throughout the day, becoming particularly active during periods of stress and anxiety. Sometimes, these movements can even involve the flinging of the body, which can induce serious injuries in patients.

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Lack Of Impulse Control

Huntington's disease, in general, is characterized by a lack of control of one's own body. In addition to physical movements, this also includes managing one's behavior. Lack of impulse control is one such factor that can present to others as irrational behavior. The frontal lobe is the area of the brain that controls impulses and directs decision-making and rationale. However, this area is often eroded and permanently damaged in patients with Huntington's disease. Because this area is damaged, the patient may not physically be capable of managing irrational thoughts and impulses. The brain takes its own direction of thought, and the body responds accordingly.

This particular symptom may be incredibly frustrating and challenging to manage for family members and carers, but remembering these impulses and compulsions are very real for the patient is absolutely critical. There is no treatment for this symptom, so exercising patience and care is very necessary to help prevent anxiety and depression from getting worse.

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Speech Difficulties

Experiencing speech difficulties is another common symptom of Huntington's disease and one that can greatly exasperate a patient and increase anxiety and depression. The average individual uses over one hundred muscles to create speech, and those with Huntington's disease tend to have muscular atrophy or degradation in these muscles. Because these muscles weaken or are uncontrollable, due to the malfunction in brain signal transmission in Huntington's disease, they often produce slurred or unclear speech. This is specifically referred to as dysarthria.

Apraxia is another speech and communication problem prevalent in Huntington's disease patients. This is caused by the brain's limited ability to send signals, which can affect breathing and speed and volume control when speaking. Speech and language therapy can play a crucial role in slowing down these degenerative effects on the muscles. Exercising these muscles regularly will keep them as strong as possible for a longer period.

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Fatigue And Insomnia

Many individuals with Huntington's disease present with problems controlling their circadian rhythms. Managing and treating this is essential, as we all need a proper night's rest for our brain and body to function properly. Furthermore, being awake throughout the night can yield feelings of loneliness, isolation, anguish, and exile, on top of all the other frustrating symptoms associated with this neurodegenerative disease.

Fatigue and insomnia in Huntington's disease patients go beyond being slightly distressing and disruptive. They can also contribute significantly to the presentation of other symptoms, such as motor tics and involuntary spasms, speech and language difficulties, and the inability to control one's impulses. Furthermore, individuals with Huntington's disease may not necessarily possess the mental reserves that allow them to cope with sleep deprivation effectively.

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Dystonia

Dystonia is one of the more painful and frustrating symptoms of Huntington's disease. The term again refers to uncontrolled movements and, specifically, painful muscle spasms and cramps. These spasms can occur throughout the body or be centralized to just one part. Sometimes, the body may also twist and contort itself into unusual and painful positions, such as craning the neck or turning the feet inwards. The most common indicator of dystonia in Huntington's disease patients, though, is involuntary tremors. This can also affect any area of the body, but it is common to see the head appear to rattle. These symptoms can be continuous or sporadic, and certain activities and stress can act as triggers. Though treatment can relieve symptoms, dystonia is a lifelong problem.