What is Huntington syndrome?

Huntington’s disease is a condition that stops parts of the brain working properly over time. It’s passed on (inherited) from a person’s parents. It gets gradually worse over time and is usually fatal after a period of up to 20 years.

Why is it called Huntington’s disease?

Huntington’s disease (HD) is named after George Huntington, who described it among residents of East Hampton, Long Island in 1872. It is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease.

What does CAG mean in Huntington’s disease?

The HTT mutation that causes Huntington disease involves a DNA segment known as a CAG trinucleotide repeat . This segment is made up of a series of three DNA building blocks (cytosine, adenine, and guanine) that appear multiple times in a row.

How does Huntington’s disease work?

Huntington’s disease is a rare, inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown (degeneration) of nerve cells in the brain. Huntington’s disease has a broad impact on a person’s functional abilities and usually results in movement, thinking (cognitive) and psychiatric disorders.

What can Huntington tutors do for your child?

For over 40 years, Huntington’s highly trained tutors have worked with students of all ages and abilities to improve their grades and build self-confidence, organizational skills, and good study habits. Whether your child is struggling academically or just wants to get ahead, we can tailor a tutoring program that will achieve results.

What are the current research directions for Huntington’s disease?

Current research directions include determining the exact mechanism of the disease, improving animal models to aid with research, testing of medications to treat symptoms or slow the progression of the disease, and studying procedures such as stem cell therapy with the goal of repairing damage caused by the disease.

What can Huntington Learning Center do for You?

Regardless if they are struggling with poor homework habits to difficulties due to ADHD, at Huntington, we’ve helped thousands of students quickly improve their grades and build their confidence. We are dedicated to building academic success that will last a lifetime.

Who was the first person to describe Huntington’s disease?

The first likely description of the disease was in 1841 by Charles Oscar Waters. The condition was described in further detail in 1872 by the physician George Huntington, after whom it is named.