Symptoms and Complications
The onset of the disease is slow and subtle. The first symptoms usually
begin in the fourth or fifth decades of life although occasionally they may
start in childhood or be delayed into the 60s. In the early stages of the disease,
abnormal motions occur on one side of the body, commonly affecting the face
and arms. Symptoms include facial movements that look like mild grimacing and
speech problems. When the person becomes emotionally upset, symptoms tend to
worsen and become more severe.
As the disease progresses, abnormal movements become faster - almost violent
- and purposeless. Patients tend to display jerky, almost dance-like motions
(chorea). There may also be signs of dementia and personality changes
associated with this late stage of the disease.
Eventually, people with this disease are unable to look after themselves and
need help with daily activities and functions such as eating, hygiene and toiletting.
People tend to become bed-ridden and may suffer complications such as congestive
heart failure and pneumonia.