May is packed with mental health awareness, and we’re continuing to recognize neurological conditions through Huntington’s Disease (HD) Awareness Month. HD is a mental health condition that affects brain cells (neurons) and causes them to degenerate over time.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), HD can only be passed down from parent to child through a genetic mutation. If a child has a parent with the HD gene, he or she has a 50% chance of inheriting it – and all people who have the gene will eventually develop HD.1 The Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) states that about 1 in 10,000 Americans are affected by HD, and symptoms typically begin between the ages of 30 and 50.1 2
There is no current cure for HD, but some treatments help to limit certain symptoms like involuntary muscle movement. If you’re looking to learn more about HD or get involved during HD Awareness Month, the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) has a great advocacy video up on YouTube (check it out below), and the organization is always looking for e-advocates to join their “Let’s Talk about HD” campaign. And you can always find support and info from others that have walked a mile in your shoes in the HD community on PatientsLikeMe.
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