2. HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE BY ERIN DALTON

3. WHAT IS IT? A degenerative brain disorder which currently there is no cure or effective treatment for it. Huntington’s disease slowly diminishes the individuals ability to walk, talk, think and reason.

4. What is it? It is a genetic disease that develops at the age 40-50, due to a repeat of the nucleotide sequence GAG on the short arm of chromosome 4.

5. Forgetfulness Clumsiness Gradual development of random fidgeting of toes and fingers Hesitant, halting or slurred speech Slight personality changes SYMPTOMS

6. Architecture of a Neuron Neurons are information messengers that transmit electrical and chemical messages between different areas of the brain and the nervous system. A neuron consists of a cell body, dendrites which receive messages, an axon which sends messages through the terminal ends.

7. Death of a Neuron The lives of some neurons take abnormal turns. Some diseases of the brain are the result of unnatural deaths of neurons. In Huntington’s a genetic mutation causes an over production of a neurotransmitter called glutamate, which kills neurons in the basal ganglia.

9. Autosomal Dominant Huntington’s disease is inherited in a autosomal dominant disorder pattern In the example above, a man with an autosomal dominant disorder has two affected children and two unaffected children.

10. Treatment There is no known cure for this disease and there is no known way to stop progression of the disorder. Treatment is aimed at slowing progression and maximizing ability to function as long as possible.