Huntington's Disease Definition

What is Huntington's Disease?

Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited degenerative disease. It is named for the American physician George Huntington, who provided one of the first descriptions of the disease in 1872.^[1] The disease causes nerve cells in the brain to die which results in progressive problems with movement, mood and mental function.

Incidence of Huntington's Disease

Most commonly, the disease strikes people between the ages of 30 to 50, although the age of onset may vary.^[2][3][4] Rarely, children also develop Huntington's disease. It affects both men and women and one of about every 10,000 people has the disease. About 16 percent of cases involve children. In the United States, at any given time about 30,000 have the disease.^[4] There is no cure for Huntington's disease.