Huntington's Disease

Huntington's disease is a genetically inherited condition which results in severe nerve-cell damage in the brain. The hereditary and debilitative nature of the disease means that many people are involved either directly or indirectly by this condition.

This book has been written for patients and the families and carers of people with Huntington's disease (HD). It provides an accessible introduction to the condition that explains the physical, behavioural, and emotional features of the disease, the important role of genetics and options for those at risk of developing the condition, plus advice on managing and treating symptoms. Patient perspectives are included throughout, offering real-life accounts from people who have or know someone with the condition.

This new edition has been fully updated to include all the latest research in HD. It gives more detail on the standard treatments, as well as explaining new trials aimed at reducing the level of the abnormal protein (huntingtin) in the brains of patients.

Table of Contents

1:Facts and figures about Huntington's disease
2:The physical features of Huntington's disease
3:Behavioural and emotional aspects of Huntington's disease
4:Juvenile Huntington's Disease and Paediatric Huntington's Disease
5:The genetics of Huntington's disease
6:Laboratory testing
7:Genetic counselling: a new diagnosis in the family
8:Genetic counselling for unaffected family members
9:Changes in the brain
10:Treatment of HD
11:What causes selective nerve cell damage?
12:Clinical research
Glossary

Oliver Quarrell, Consultant in Clinical Genetics, Sheffield Children's Hospital, Sheffield, UK

Dr. Quarrell has a long standing interest in Huntington's disease (HD). He has written peer reviewed papers and book chapters on the subject. He has been active member of the European Huntington's Disease Network and the UK Huntington's Prediction Consortium. He is an associate editor of the Journal of Huntington's Disease. He has been a principal investigator for a number of clinical trials of potential treatments for HD. For many years he served on the Executive Committee of the Hungtington's Disease Association (England and Wales): the first edition of this book was conceived whilst in this role.