What is huntington disease?

Huntington disease is a rare condition. It causes parts of the brain to break down, or degenerate, over time. It's passed down through family genes (inherited). The disease causes jerky body movements and loss of mental abilities (dementia). It also causes personality changes. There is no known cure for Huntington disease.

Treatment for Huntington disease can help control your symptoms. It doesn't stop the disease. But it can improve your quality of life.

Treatment may include:

Medicines.

Your doctor may give you medicines to help control unwanted body movements and manage emotional symptoms like depression.

Speech therapy.

A speech-language pathologist can help you learn ways to improve your speech or language skills. He or she can also help you learn ways to make swallowing easier.

Physical therapy.

Unwanted body movements can make it hard to walk. A physical therapist can help you improve your walking and reduce your risk of falling. He or she can also help you use a cane or walker.

High-calorie diet.

People with Huntington disease have a fast metabolism. They may need to eat a high-calorie diet to prevent weight loss.