What is Huntington’s Disease?

For a brief overview about Huntington's disease, watch HDF’s Director of Research Program Sarah Hernandez’s webinar: Huntington's Disease Research: History and Hope.

Huntington’s disease is a fatal, inherited brain disorders that typically affects individuals during their prime working years. It causes psychiatric changes, cognitive problems, and uncontrollable movements. Each child of an afflicted parent has a 50% risk of inheriting the disease. Currently there is no cure.

Huntington’s disease usually appears in the prime of life – age 30-50 – but it can strike as early as 2 or as old as 80. It is invariably fatal over a 10-20 year, unremitting course. Most individuals in the late stages of illness require enormous assistance. They lose the ability to walk, talk, and feed themselves, but are still aware of themselves and their families.

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