Summary NR 283 Unit 7 Discussion Topic – Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. 2021

NR 283 Unit 7 Discussion Topic – Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease are both Neurodegenerative disorders which mean they are a disease resulting in the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, including the death of neurons. Huntington's Disease Huntington's disease is an inherited disease that causes the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the central area of the brain, which affects movement, mood and thinking skills. Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominant disorder, which means that a person needs only one copy of the defective gene to develop the disorder. Symptoms usually begin between 30 and 50 years of age, but can start at any age (as early as age 2 or as late as 80). The classic symptom of Huntington's disease is an uncontrolled movement of the arms, legs, head, face and upper body. Huntington's disease also causes a decline in thinking and reasoning skills, including memory, concentration, judgment and ability to plan and organize. Huntington's disease brain changes lead to alterations in mood, especially depression, anxiety, and uncharacteristic anger and irritability. Another common symptom is obsessive-compulsive behavior, leading a person to repeat the same question or activity over and over (Huntington's Disease, 2013). There is currently no cure for Huntington's disease and no way to slow or stop the brain changes it causes. Treatments focus on managing symptoms through medication and therapy.