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Huntington's chorea
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- This is a form of Dementia that begins between the ages of 30-50. It tends to progress to death over the next 15-20 years.
- Huntington's Chorea is
a genetic disease associated with characteristic jerky
involuntary spasms, called chorea.
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- Abnormal movements
- Intellectual changes
- Behavioral changes
- Irritability
- Antisocial behavior
- Moodiness
- Psychiatric disorders
- Dementia (senility)
- Chorea -- repetitively purposeless movements of the extremities
- Rigidity may occur
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- Genetic (autosomal dominant)
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- Made by symptoms and history
- CT scan -- brain atrophy and atrophy of the caudate nucleus
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- Currently there is no cure
- Supportive care for the individuals to help them function in their environment
- Genetic counseling for family members
- Supportive care for the family
- Haldol or phenothiazines may help with psychiatric symptoms
- Reserpine may help movement
problems
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- The patient with this disorder is at risk of injuring himself and others, if psychiatric symptoms are severe. Depression is
common. People with this disease are at risk of suicide.
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