Huntington’s Disease Dementia

Typical Huntington’s disease dementia symptoms are mood swings, loss of coordination, and involuntary movements of the head, trunk, and limbs.

Huntington’s is genetic, and as the disease progresses, often leads to dementia symptoms. While memory loss is rarely associated with this disease, decision-making and language or communication difficulties are much more common.

Depression is the most common psychiatric symptom, along with apathy, withdrawal…and/or periodically seem uninhibited.

Disinhibition may be seen as inappropriate behavior, loss of social graces, excess irritability or agitation, and sexual aggression.

In about 1/3 or 1/2 of cases, initial medical evaluation is sought as a result of behavior and personality changes.

This is a rare form of dementia and affects about 3 to 7 people out of 100,000. It is found at the base of the brain, in the basal ganglia. And is equally distributed to both genders.

The prognosis for confirmed cases is 10-30 years from onset of Huntington’s disease. For the diagnosis of Juvenile Huntington’s, it’s only 10 years or less.

If your loved one has received this diagnosis, call us. You need support to talk through the decisions before you.

We work with patients suffering from all types of dementia every day and are here to help you.