Ashley Court of
Brighton
7400 Challis Road, Brighton, Michigan 48116
Ph: (810) 225-7400 Fax: (810) 225-8281
(Located next to Mt. Brighton Ski Resort)
Huntington's Disease
Huntington's disease is an inherited, degenerative brain disease, which affects the mind and body. The disease usually begins during mid-life, and is characterized by intellectual decline, and irregular and involuntary movements of the limbs or facial muscles. Other symptoms of Huntington's disease include personality change, memory disturbance, slurred speech, impaired judgment and psychiatric problems. Huntington's disease currently affects more than 25,000 Americans. The diagnostic process for Huntington's disease includes an evaluation of family medical history, recognition of typical movement disorders and CAT brain scanning. A genetic marker linked to Huntington's disease has been identified on chromosome 4 and researchers are working on locating the gene itself. Although there is no treatment available to stop progression of the disease, the movement disorders and psychiatric symptoms can be controlled by drugs.
