Huntington's disease

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Huntington's disease is a disorder passed down through families in which nerve cells in certain parts of the brain waste away, or degenerate. There are two forms of Huntington's disease.

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The most common is adult-onset Huntington's disease. Persons with this form usually develop symptoms in their mid 30s and 40s.
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An early-onset form of Huntington's disease accounts for a small number of cases and begins in childhood or adolescence.

Symptoms

Behavior changes may occur before movement problems, and can include:

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Behavioral disturbances
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Hallucinations
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Irritability
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Moodiness
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Restlessness or fidgeting
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Paranoia
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Psychosis

Abnormal and unusual movements include:

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Facial movements, including grimaces
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Head turning to shift eye position
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Quick, sudden, sometimes wild jerking movements of the arms, legs, face, and other body parts
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Slow, uncontrolled movements
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Unsteady gait

Dementia that slowly gets worse, including:

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Disorientation or confusion
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Loss of judgment
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Loss of memory
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Personality changes
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Speech changes

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

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Anxiety, stress, and tension
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Difficulty swallowing
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Speech impairment

Symptoms in children:

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Rigidity
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Slow movements
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Tremor