Question: What's Huntingdon Disease?

Nicola Ibberson answered on 20 Jun 2012:

Huntington disease is a neurological disorder (affects the way the brain works). It generally occurs later in life – from the 30’s onwards and is slowly disabling (known as neurodegenerative). People with Huntington’s gradually develop jerky, uncontrolled movements, slurred speech, psychiatric problems and other issues. The disease will eventually kill them. It really is a very horrible illness.

It is caused by a little piece of repetitive DNA that we all have in our bodies – ‘CAG’ over and over within the HTT gene. In some people, when their cells divide to form the sex cells that they pass on to their children, the repeated CAG goes a bit beserk, and copies itself too many times. These people are those that will go on to develop Huntington’s. The more copies of CAG you have above the ‘normal’ threshold, the earlier you will get the disease.

Hope this makes sense! Let me know if you have further questions!