Symptoms of Huntington Disease

Symptoms of Huntington disease may vary, depending on the type of Huntington disease a person has. In the case of the adult-onset form of the illness, symptoms of Huntington disease typically begin in middle age and may include irritability, depression, small involuntary movements, and poor coordination. Juvenile (or early-onset) Huntington disease symptoms usually begin before age 20 and may include slowness, rigidity, slow speech, seizures, and loss of motor skills.

 

Symptoms of Huntington Disease: An Introduction

Adult-onset Huntington disease (also known as Huntington's disease or HD) is the most common form of Huntington disease and usually begins in middle age. There is also an early-onset form of Huntington disease (juvenile Huntington disease) that begins in childhood or adolescence. Some of the symptoms of Huntington disease for early-onset HD differ from those of the adult-onset form.
 

Symptoms of Adult-Onset Huntington Disease

Symptoms of adult-onset Huntington disease can include:
 
  • Irritability
  • Mood swings
  • Depression
  • Small involuntary movements
  • Poor coordination
  • Trouble learning new information or making decisions.
     
As the disease progresses, involuntary jerking movements (chorea) become more pronounced. Affected individuals may have trouble walking, speaking, and swallowing. People with symptoms of Huntington disease also typically experience changes in personality and a decline in thinking and reasoning abilities.
 
Individuals with this form of Huntington disease generally survive about 15 to 25 years after the symptoms appear.
 
(Symptoms of Huntington Disease Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD