Huntington’s Disease❗️❗️

Question 1

Etiology of Huntington’s disease

Answer 1

• fatal, hereditary neurological disorder
• severe physical and mental disabilities
• causes progressive loss of nerve cells in the brain
• affecting movement, cognition, emotions, and behavior

Question 2

SSx of Huntington’s disease

Answer 2

A. Motor difficulties
1. Involuntary movement patterns: chorea (~ dancing), akathisia靜坐不能, and dystonia肌張力不全症

2. Voluntary movement patterns: bradykinesia動作緩慢, akinesia起始動作有困難, incoordination of movement
3. Difficulties with smaller movements and hand–eye coordination
4. Middle stage: Gait and balance problems, such as wide-based gait pattern and difficulties walking on uneven terrain
5. Late stage: hypertonicity replacing chorea, and large bursts of movement when small movements are intended.

B. Deterioration of cognitive and behavioral abilities
1. Forgetfulness
2. Difficulty concentrating
3. Difficulty with mental calculations, sequencing of tasks, and memory
4. initial stages: difficulty maintaining work performance
5. middle stages: disturbances in memory and decision making

6. later stages: compromised pronunciation because of dysarthria
7. Irritability and depression
8. Depression, possibly leading to suicide

C. Slowing of saccadic eye movements and ocular pursuits

D. Dysphagia