This MRI image shows a normal brain on the left, and a brain affected by Huntington's Chorea on the right. Notice the loss of brain mass. (http://www.rushprnews.com/)
Huntington's Chorea
This disease dates back long ago from generation to generation, but was namely notable in 1872 by Dr. George Huntington. This pathology is an inherited, degenerative disorder of the Central Nervous System.
Huntington's Chorea symptoms usually arise in adults in there 30's and 40's. The biggest affect this has on the body is affecting your movements, but it also affects your memory and reasoning skills.
So what's going on in the brain??
The basal ganglia structures in the brain are affected most, which leads to a shrunken brain and enlarged ventricles. Huntington's is also a defect in chromosome #4. Normal chromosomes consist of a sequenace of three DNA bases made up of chemicals, but in Huntington's, chromosome #4 is made up of an abnormal sequence base that repeats itself way more than normal. There is also two neurotransmitters in the brain: Acetylcholine and GABA, that are responsible for the arise of symptoms throughout the body. These neurotransmitters are reduced and affect the Dopamine in the brain, which in turn cause all the crazy movements of the body.
Progression of Huntington's Chorea in the body
Huntington's Chorea makes the motor movements of the body act spontaneously and allows for lack of coordination. When a person doesn't even mean to move, or tries to do a simple task, there movements may do the opposite of what they are trying to do, or act out in a way that makes no sense. Huntington's can also make someone depressed, apathetic, irritable, and lose concentration. People living with this disorder can have the disease for many years, and although the disease tends to not be fatal itself, an unsteady person can harm themselves by falling and causing illnesses that can lead to death.
Is there a cure for Huntington's Chorea?
At current time, there is no cure for Huntington's Chorea. There are medications out there to help ease the symptoms and prolong the disease, but no official cure. However, clinical tests and research is underway to hopefully find a cure or better medications.
References
This disease dates back long ago from generation to generation, but was namely notable in 1872 by Dr. George Huntington. This pathology is an inherited, degenerative disorder of the Central Nervous System.
Huntington's Chorea symptoms usually arise in adults in there 30's and 40's. The biggest affect this has on the body is affecting your movements, but it also affects your memory and reasoning skills.
So what's going on in the brain??
The basal ganglia structures in the brain are affected most, which leads to a shrunken brain and enlarged ventricles. Huntington's is also a defect in chromosome #4. Normal chromosomes consist of a sequenace of three DNA bases made up of chemicals, but in Huntington's, chromosome #4 is made up of an abnormal sequence base that repeats itself way more than normal. There is also two neurotransmitters in the brain: Acetylcholine and GABA, that are responsible for the arise of symptoms throughout the body. These neurotransmitters are reduced and affect the Dopamine in the brain, which in turn cause all the crazy movements of the body.
Progression of Huntington's Chorea in the body
Huntington's Chorea makes the motor movements of the body act spontaneously and allows for lack of coordination. When a person doesn't even mean to move, or tries to do a simple task, there movements may do the opposite of what they are trying to do, or act out in a way that makes no sense. Huntington's can also make someone depressed, apathetic, irritable, and lose concentration. People living with this disorder can have the disease for many years, and although the disease tends to not be fatal itself, an unsteady person can harm themselves by falling and causing illnesses that can lead to death.
Is there a cure for Huntington's Chorea?
At current time, there is no cure for Huntington's Chorea. There are medications out there to help ease the symptoms and prolong the disease, but no official cure. However, clinical tests and research is underway to hopefully find a cure or better medications.
References
Mark, R. (2002). What is Huntington's Chorea? Essortment.com. Retrieved January 30, 2010 from http://www.essortment.com/all/whatishuntingt_rctd.htm.
Huntington disease. (1996-2010) MedicineNet.com Retrieved January 30, 2010 from http://www.medicinenet.com/huntington_disease/article.htm
Image:
MRI brain image. (2008). Google images. Retrieved January 30, 2010 from http://www.rushprnews.com/
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