You might have heard the name in passing but not known what it really means. Huntington's disease is a hereditary brain disorder that slowly wears away movement, thinking, and mood—so it affects daily life in many unexpected ways. This post will walk through what causes it, how it shows up, and what life looks like for people and families living with the condition.
How Huntington's disease works
Huntington's disease is caused by a change in a single gene that gets passed from parent to child. That altered gene makes a protein that gradually damages neurons in parts of the brain that control voluntary movement and cognitive functions. Symptoms typically appear in mid-adulthood, often between the ages of 30 and 50, but they can begin earlier or later in life.
The gene mutation is autosomal dominant, which means a child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation.
As brain cells die, symptoms get progressively worse over years to decades.
There is no cure yet, but treatments can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Common signs and symptoms
Symptoms fall into three broad categories: movement, cognitive, and psychiatric. They often overlap and change as the disease progresses.
Movement: involuntary, jerky movements called chorea; slowed or awkward voluntary movements; difficulty swallowing and speaking.
Cognitive: trouble with planning, learning new information, multitasking, and memory problems.
Psychiatric: depression, irritability, anxiety, and changes in personality or judgment.
Early signs can be subtle—mood changes, small coordination problems, or slight memory hiccups—so families sometimes misattribute symptoms to stress or aging.
How Huntington's disease is diagnosed
Diagnosis combines clinical assessment, family history, and genetic testing. A neurologist will evaluate movement patterns and cognitive function, and blood tests can confirm the genetic mutation.
Genetic testing gives a definitive result by detecting the abnormal repeat in the HTT gene.
Imaging like MRI can show brain changes but isn’t required for genetic confirmation.
Treatment and care options
There is no treatment that stops or reverses Huntington's disease yet, but medications and therapies help manage symptoms and maintain independence longer.
Medications can reduce chorea and treat psychiatric symptoms.
Speech, occupational, and physical therapy help with communication, mobility, and daily tasks.
Multidisciplinary care teams and genetic counseling are essential supports for families.
History and cultural notes
The disease is named after George Huntington, the physician who described its key features in 1872.
Historically, families sometimes hid the condition because of stigma; today genetic counseling and advocacy groups help make conversations more open and informed.
Public awareness has grown through high-profile research efforts and patient advocacy, which helped push forward clinical trials and better supportive care.
Did You Know? Juvenile Huntington's disease occurs when symptoms appear before age 20 and often progresses faster than adult-onset forms.
Mini Q&A — quick answers to common questions
Q: Is Huntington's disease contagious?
A: No, it’s a genetic disorder and cannot be transmitted between people by contact.
Q: Can genetic testing tell me when symptoms will start?
A: Testing can confirm whether you carry the mutation but cannot precisely predict the age when symptoms will begin.
Q: What support exists for families?
A: Genetic counseling, multidisciplinary clinics, support groups, and specialized therapies are common resources.
Personal insight
I remember reading a caregiver’s account of learning to greet small successes—like a clearer sentence or a steady step—as real wins. That stayed with me: Huntington's disease reshapes daily victories and priorities in ways that are hard to explain but deeply human. Listening to families and clinicians taught me how much dignity and creativity go into everyday care.
Final thoughts
Huntington's disease is an inherited neurodegenerative illness that affects movement, thinking, and mood, and it changes life for both the person diagnosed and their family. While there’s no cure yet, advances in care, therapy, and research offer ways to manage symptoms and improve quality of life. What questions or stories about Huntington's disease would you like to see explored next?