Huntington’s Disease Is Prion Disease
Huntington’s disease is a genetic, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder. It causes involuntary muscle movements in the hands, feet, face and core. Like the diseases mentioned earlier, it also causes progressive loss of cognitive processes and memory.
Huntington’s is in part a family disease. Though everyone is born with the huntingtin gene, the disease is caused by an abnormal mutation, which parents pass to their children. Only a person born with the abnormal gene can get the illness. Every person with the abnormal gene will develop symptoms if they live long enough. In addition, it appears that HD is caused by an abnormal huntingtin protein. The protein is a form of prion (infectious and deadly proteins). This is bad news for caregivers and it likely explains the intensity of the disease within families because they are infecting each other and others who cross their paths.
Prions (PREE-ons) are formed from proteins normally present in the brain. As these proteins turn into prions, they adopt an aberrant shape, which becomes self-propagating (transmissible).
The HD gene was identified in 1993. Now a test allows a person to find out if they carry the abnormal HD gene. While the test is very accurate, it cannot determine when the symptoms will begin. People who test positive for the gene may remain unaffected for many years.
Movement abnormalities may include uncontrolled, irregular, jerking movements and slow, writhing, involuntary movements. The dementia includes progressive disorientation and confusion, muted personality, impairment of memory, restlessness and agitation. The disease can impact people for their last 10 to 25 years or more.
In the early stages of Huntington’s disease, people see subtle changes in mood, movement, and brain function.
During this stage, people lose the ability to work and drive. They need help performing daily activities. This is the stage where people often apply for disability. The movement disorder leads to difficulties with balance, swallowing, and voluntary motor tasks. Individuals have more difficulty organizing and prioritizing information. The behavioral symptoms affect everyone differently, but irritability, aggression, depression, and apathy during this stage can lead to personal and family issues.
In the late stage of Huntington’s disease, people require help in all aspects of daily life.
At this point, the person may lose the ability to speak and respond, but is still able to comprehend what is happening around them. Chorea (writhing and shaking) can be severe. During this stage, many people enter long-term care facilities to access 24/7 care. Life-threatening complications may result from pneumonia, infections, and falls.
There are proven strategies to help avert neurodegenerative disease, including smart nutrition, exercise and prion aversion. There is not a cure for prion disease, but smart nutrition can ease the symptoms. Smart nutrition also can help you and your family avert neurodegenerative disease. Preview and order the eBook now to defend yourself and your family.
Gary Chandler is a prion expert. He is the CEO of Crossbow Communications, author of several books and producer of documentaries about health and environmental issues around the world. Chandler is connecting the dots to the global surge in neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, chronic wasting disease and other forms of prion disease. The scientific name for prion disease is transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.