Huntington's Association of South Africa (HASA)

Huntington's Association of South Africa (HASA)

Huntington's Disease (HD) is an inherited brain disorder. It causes cells in specific parts of the brain to die. As the brain cells die, people with HD become less able to control movements, recall recent events, make decisions, and control emotions. The disease leads to incapacitation and, some 5 to 30 years after onset, death. There is no cure and no effective treatment, although drugs exist that can help with involuntary movements and emotional problems.

Huntington's Disease is a genetic disorder, caused by a faulty gene on chromosome 4. The HD gene is dominant, which means that each child of a parent with HD has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. Males and females have the same risk of inheriting the disease. HD affects all population groups but is often not diagnosed.

HD primarily affects adults, with symptoms usually appearing between the ages of 30 and 45, but the disease can first appear in children as young as 5, or in adults in their 70's.