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Huntington Disease

Franklin J Berkey, DO and Marina M Jeffery, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Hereditary neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms typically occurring between 30 and 50. There are no treatments to cure or...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Patients with an affected family member may request investigation in the presymptomatic stage.

  • Physical symptoms are typically noted first, presenting with choreiform movements, clumsi...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Speech, swallow, occupational, and physical therapy to preserve maximal function

  • Psychiatric/psychological consultation

  • Feeding tubes in late stages

MEDICATION

Motor (1,3,4
  • Cho...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Physical therapy (6)

    • Aerobic exercise alone or in combination with resistance training

    • Supervised gait training

    • Breathing exercises

    • Postural stability and transfer t...

REFERENCES

1
Nance MA, Paulsen JS, Rosenblatt A, et al. A Physician's Guide to the Management of Huntington's Disease. 3rd ed. Huntington's Disease Society of America; 2011.
2
Medina A, Mahjoub Y, Shaver...

CODES

ICD10

G10 Huntington's disease 

SNOMED

  • 58756001 Huntington's chorea (disorder)

  • 230299004 Juvenile onset Huntington's disease

  • 230300007 Late onset Huntington's disease

  • 230301006 Akinetic-rigid form of ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • An autosomal dominant inherited disease of insidious onset between 30 and 50 years.

  • No known cure, with life expectancy 10–20 years after clinical diagnosis.

  • Early symptoms include rhyth...

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