Huntington's Disease: Difference between revisions
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'''Huntington's Disease/HD''' is an example of a''trinucleotide repea''t neurodegenerative disease. It is an [[Autosomal Dominant Disorders|autosomal dominant disorder]], requiring only one gene from either parent's genotype in order to be expressed in the phenotype. Unlike other inherited diseases, HD begins to express itself later into adulthood (40+). | '''Huntington's Disease/HD''' is an example of a ''trinucleotide repea''t neurodegenerative disease. It is an [[Autosomal Dominant Disorders|autosomal dominant disorder]], requiring only one gene from either parent's genotype in order to be expressed in the phenotype. Unlike other inherited diseases, HD begins to express itself later into adulthood (40+). | ||
'''Symptoms '''<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span> | |||
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The main symptoms of HD include dementia and motor function issues (akin to Parkinson's Disease) , the severity of which increase rapidly as the disease develops.</span> | |||
'''Treatment''' | '''Treatment''' | ||
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There are no known cures for Huntington's disease for the time being, however there are speculations that excitotoxic drugs or neural transplantation will hold the key to slowing down the course of the illness and treating the dementia symptoms. | There are no known cures for Huntington's disease for the time being, however there are speculations that excitotoxic drugs or neural transplantation will hold the key to slowing down the course of the illness and treating the dementia symptoms. | ||
The drugs used to alleviate the motor symptoms include'''tetrabenazine''' - which reduces dopamine storage, '''chlorpromazine''' - a dopamine antagonist and '''baclofen''' - a GABA agonist. | The drugs used to alleviate the motor symptoms include '''tetrabenazine''' - which reduces dopamine storage, '''chlorpromazine''' - a dopamine antagonist and '''baclofen''' - a GABA agonist. | ||
''NB - these drugs are essentially the opposite of those used to treat Parkinsons Disease <references />'' | ''NB - these drugs are essentially the opposite of those used to treat Parkinsons Disease <ref>Dale M.M, Flower R.J, Henderson G, H.P Rang, Ritter J.M (2011) 'Rang and Dale's Pharmacology' 7th Ed. (Elsevier Churchill Livingstone)</ref><references />'' | ||
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Revision as of 15:12, 20 October 2013
Huntington's Disease/HD is an example of a trinucleotide repeat neurodegenerative disease. It is an autosomal dominant disorder, requiring only one gene from either parent's genotype in order to be expressed in the phenotype. Unlike other inherited diseases, HD begins to express itself later into adulthood (40+).
Symptoms
The main symptoms of HD include dementia and motor function issues (akin to Parkinson's Disease) , the severity of which increase rapidly as the disease develops.
Treatment
There are no known cures for Huntington's disease for the time being, however there are speculations that excitotoxic drugs or neural transplantation will hold the key to slowing down the course of the illness and treating the dementia symptoms.
The drugs used to alleviate the motor symptoms include tetrabenazine - which reduces dopamine storage, chlorpromazine - a dopamine antagonist and baclofen - a GABA agonist.
NB - these drugs are essentially the opposite of those used to treat Parkinsons Disease [1]
- ↑ Dale M.M, Flower R.J, Henderson G, H.P Rang, Ritter J.M (2011) 'Rang and Dale's Pharmacology' 7th Ed. (Elsevier Churchill Livingstone)