Huntington’s Disease – “Facing Death Full of Life” by Danielle Valenti

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive genetic disorder that causes the breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. Common symptoms of HD include: personality changes, mood swings, depression, forgetfulness, impaired judgement, unsteady gait, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and significant weight loss. Children whose parents have the HD gene have a 50% chance of developing the disease. Danielle Valenti explains her mother’s experience with HD during a Ted Talk. Her mother’s initial symptoms were cognitive issues, which eventually affected her body. She became so affected by the disease that she refused to eat for 67 days before she passed away. Danielle got tested for HD after her mother died and confirmed that she also has the HD gene. She reports cyclical emotions of hope, self-pity, and fear of living. I chose to learn about this disease to compare it with my understanding of Parkinson’s disease. These diseases are often mentioned together because they both progressively affect movement. I’ve learned that movement in HD is affected by the progressive breakdown of the brain’s nerve cells. Ultimately, the central nervous system is developing a limitation that affects movement. It’s important for others to learn the difference between Huntington’s disease and other neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, because they may seem similar. Alzheimer’s impairs memory, which may affect body control, while Huntington’s Disease attacks the brain cells that are responsible for motor movement.

 

 

Huntington’s Disease Society of America. Overview of Huntington’s Disease. Retrieved August 5, 2020 from https://hdsa.org/what-is-hd/overview-of-huntingtons-disease/

 

 

Valenti, D. (2015) Facing Death Full of Life. TEDx Talks. Retrieved August 5, 2020 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JRwCdmewl0

 

Retrieved from https://hdsa.org/what-is-hd/overview-of-huntingtons-disease/