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Post by annelieseRN on Jan 18, 2013 9:16:36 GMT -5
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. *
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 *
Hallucinations *
Irritability *
Moodiness *
Restlessness or fidgeting *
Paranoia *
Psychosis
Abnormal and unusual movements include:
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Facial movements, including grimaces *
Head turning to shift eye position *
Quick, sudden, sometimes wild jerking movements of the arms, legs, face, and other body parts *
Slow, uncontrolled movements *
Unsteady gait
Dementia that slowly gets worse, including:
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Disorientation or confusion *
Loss of judgment *
Loss of memory *
Personality changes *
Speech changes
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:
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Anxiety, stress, and tension *
Difficulty swallowing *
Speech impairment
Symptoms in children:
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Rigidity *
Slow movements *
Tremor
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