Symptoms
The onset of Huntington’s Disease is not the same for everyone. Typically, the initial symptoms of this disease will begin to show anywhere from the age of 30-50 years old. However there are some cases in which symptoms will begin before the age of 20, this is known as Juvenille Huntington’s Disease.
Major symptoms of this disease include:
Behavioral Changes
- mood swings
- irritability
- depression
- unexplained anger
Individuals who suffer from Huntington’s Disease will begin to act outside of their previously known character.
Diminished Cognitive Ability
- inability to focus
- trouble problem solving or decision making
- loss of ability to prioritize
- no longer able to complete normal daily tasks
As the disease progresses, cognitive functioning diminshes significantly causing extreme difficulty in day to day functioning. This is often referred to as Dementia.
Uncontrolled and Difficult Movement
- inability to control movement of the fingers, feet, face or trunk
- unusual posture (dystonia)
- compromised gait
- issues with balance and coordination
- lack of movement (akinesia)
An early symptom of Huntington’s Disease is spastic, uncontrolled movements. The above listed symptoms are likely to worsen in times of stress.
Physical Changes
- slurred speech
- dimished ability to swallow
- trouble walking independently
- weight loss
- extreme fatigue
- seizures
Individuals with Huntington’s Disease often encounter problems with maintaining their weight because of significant decrease in their desire to eat due to their inability to swallow sufficiently. The inability to swallow food sufficiently can result in choking as well as chest infections.