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Huntington's disease

Alternative Names: Huntington chorea Symptoms: behavior changes irritability, moodiness restlessness, fidgeting antisocial behaviors psychosis, paranoia, hallucinations facial movements, grimaces need to turn head to shift the gaze progressive dementia loss of memory loss of judgment speech changes loss of other functions (calculating, etc.) personality changes disorientation or confusion unsteady gait progressive development of abnormal (choreiform) movements quick, sudden, jerking movements of arms, legs, face, trunk (movement, unpredictable - jerky) movement, uncontrolled - slow Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease: speech impairment anxiety, stress, and tension difficulty swallowing In children: slow movements tremor rigidity Text Continues Below Signs and tests: Examination may indicate progressive dementia and choreiform (chorea-like) movements. Reflexes may be abnormal. The gait is often "prancing" and wide. Speech may be hesitant or enunciation poor. A head CT scan may show atrophy (loss of tissue), especially of deep brain (caudate) structures, or other abnormalities. Other tests that may indicate Huntington's disease include: head MRI scan PET (isotope) scan of the brain DNA marker studies (gene studies that indicate the tendency to develop this disorder) may be available

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