What are some symptoms of HD.?
How is HD treated.?
Can this disease be prevented.? Why or why not.?
What kind of research is being conducted.?
Can this disease ever be cured.?
What chromosome is this disease found on.?
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
What Research is being done.?
Basic neurobiology.-Now that the HD gene has been located, investigators in the field of neurobiology-which encompasses the anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry of the nervous system-are continuing to study the HD gene with an eye toward understanding how it causes disease in the human body.
Clinical research.- Neurologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other investigators are improving our understanding of the symptoms and progression of the disease in patients while attempting to develop new therapeutics.
Imaging.- Scientific investigations use technology that will enable scientists to see what the defective gene does to various structures in the brain and how it affects the body's chemistry and metabolism.
Animal models.- Laboratory animals, such as mice, are being bred in the hope of duplicating the clinical features of HD and can soon be expected to help scientists learn more about the symptoms and progression of the disease.
Fetal tissue research.- Investigators are implanting fetal tissue in rodents and nonhuman primates with the hope that success in this area will lead to understanding, restoring, or replacing functions typically lost by neuronal degeneration in individuals with HD.
Clinical research.- Neurologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other investigators are improving our understanding of the symptoms and progression of the disease in patients while attempting to develop new therapeutics.
Imaging.- Scientific investigations use technology that will enable scientists to see what the defective gene does to various structures in the brain and how it affects the body's chemistry and metabolism.
Animal models.- Laboratory animals, such as mice, are being bred in the hope of duplicating the clinical features of HD and can soon be expected to help scientists learn more about the symptoms and progression of the disease.
Fetal tissue research.- Investigators are implanting fetal tissue in rodents and nonhuman primates with the hope that success in this area will lead to understanding, restoring, or replacing functions typically lost by neuronal degeneration in individuals with HD.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
How can I prevent this from happening to me.?
Unfortunately, this disease cannot be prevented. It is inherited. Even though genetic counseling is advised if there is a family history of this disease.
How can this disease be treated and or cured if I have it.?
Unfortunately, there is no cure nor treatment for this disease. Nor is there a way to stop the disease from getting worse. Although, dopamine blockers (hormones produced by the adernal glands which are located on top of the kidneys and are released into the blood in times of emotional or physical stress) are distributed to help reduce abnormal behaviors and movements. And other drugs are used to try to control extra movements. The only thing to do for a person with huntington's disease is to try to make them as comfortable as possible. Some evidence have proved that the co-enzyme Q10 can be used to help slow down the disease.
NOTE: Depression and suicide are common among people with this disease.!
NOTE: Depression and suicide are common among people with this disease.!
How would the doctor know I have the disease.?
Your doctor will perform a physical exam while he/she checks to see if you have either: abnormal movements, abnormal reflexes, a "prancing" and wide walk, hesistant speech and problems enunciating your words. The doctor might even perfom a head CT scan which will show whether you have a loss of brain tissue. You may get asked about your family's health history and symptoms. The doctor will also have the tools to tell you whether you carry the gene for Huntington's Disease.
How is Huntington's Disease caused.?
Well, Huntington's Disease is caused by a genetic defect in chromosome #4. The disease causes a part of the DNA (the CAG repeat) to occur more than the average 10 to 35 times. In someone who has this disease, the CAG repeat occurs about 36 to 120 times. As the gene is passed from generation to generation, the number of repeats tend to get larger. The larger the number of repeats, the greater the chances of you developing the disease at an early age. So, as the disease is passed through the family, it becomes more evident at an early age.
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