The Facts
This disease, also called Huntington's chorea, is a hereditary condition
that affects the brain, specifically an area called the basal ganglia (located
deep in the brain). The disease follows an autosomal dominant pattern
of inheritance. This means that if one parent has the disease, each child
has a 50% chance of inheriting it. Huntington's disease is quite rare, occurring
in about 1 person in 10,000.
The disease destroys nerve cells (neurons) in parts of the brain and lowers
levels of chemicals called neurotransmitters that carry signals in the
brain. People with this disease experience uncontrolled movements, loss of mental
abilities, and changes in personality or behavior.