Huntington's disease history and symptoms
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Syed Ahsan Hussain, M.D.[2]
Overview
History and Symptoms
Although there is no sudden loss of abilities or exhibition of symptoms, there is a progressive decline.
Physicals
- Dementia
- Chorea movements:
- Jerky movements
- Uncontrollable movements
- Although some exhibit very slow movement and stiffness
- Loss of determination
- Speaking is impaired with slurred words and uncontrollable movements of the mouth
- Eating and mobility are extremely difficult if not impossible, and full-time care is required.
Cognitive : Abilities affected are;
- Executive function
- Planning; cognitive flexibility
- Rule acquisition
- Initiating appropriate actions
- Inhibiting inappropriate actions
- Slurring of the words and some uncontrollable movement of the lips
- Perceptual and spatial skills of self and surrounding environment
- Ability to learn new skills, depending on the affected parts of the brain.
Psychopathological : Psychopathological symptoms vary more than cognitive and physical symptoms, and may include
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Compulsivity which can cause addictions such as alcoholism and gambling, or hypersexuality.
- Unable to recognize expressions of disgust in others and also don't show reactions of disgust to foul odors or tastes.[1] The inability to recognize disgust in others appears in carriers of the Huntington gene before symptoms are manifest.[2] A number of related studies have been published.[3]
References
- ↑ Mitchell IJ, Heims H, Neville EA, Rickards H. Huntington's disease patients show impaired perception of disgust in the gustatory and olfactory modalities. Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 17:119-121, February 2005. PMID 15746492
- ↑ Sprengelmeyer R, Schroeder U, Young AW, Epplen JT. "Disgust in pre-clinical Huntington's disease: a longitudinal study." Neuropsychologia. 2006;44(4):518-33. Epub 2005 August 11. PMID 16098998
- ↑ PubMed search for "Huntington's disease" and "disgust"