Huntington's disease
Alternative Names
Huntington choreaSymptoms
- Abnormal and unusual movements
- Head turning to shift eye position
- Facial movements, including grimaces
- Slow, uncontrolled movements
- Quick, sudden, jerking movements of arms, legs, face, and other body parts
- Unsteady gait
- Behavior changes
- Dementia that slowly gets worse, including
- Loss of memory
- Loss of judgment
- Speech changes
- Personality changes
- Disorientation or confusion
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:
In children:
- Rigidity
- Slow movements
- Tremor
Exams and Tests
The doctor will perform a physical exam. The doctor may see signs of dementia and abnormal movements. Reflexes may be abnormal. The gait is often "prancing" and wide. Speech may be hesitant or enunciation poor.
A head CT scan may show loss of brain tissue, especially deep in the brain.
Other tests that may show signs of Huntington's disease include:
DNA marker studies may be available to determine if you carry the gene for Huntington's disease.
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