Health encyclopaedia

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Huntington's disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurological disease for which there is no cure. It damages the nerve cells in the brain and causes degeneration, deterioration and gradual loss of function of areas of the brain. This affects movement, cognition (perception, awareness, thinking, judgement) and behaviour.

It was first described by American doctor George Huntington in 1872, and was originally named Huntington’s chorea after the Greek word for dancing, as the associated involuntary movements can look like jerky dancing.

Men and women are equally likely to develop Huntington’s. It is estimated that there are between 6,500 and 8,000 people with the disease in the UK. Twice as many people may have inherited the disease but have not yet developed symptoms. This group, who are unaware they carry the disease, may have had children and passed on the disease before realising they have it.

Juvenile (children’s) Huntington’s disease usually develops before the age of 20 and is more severe. It is usually inherited from the father rather than the mother.

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