Huntington's disease is a rare disease that causes the nerve cells in the brain to break down. It affects many systems in your body and leads to movement, thinking, and psychiatric issues.
Most people with Huntington's disease first develop symptoms in their 30s or 40s. Huntington's disease is inherited and is caused by changes in one gene. You only need one copy of this gene to develop Huntington's disease.
With Huntington's disease, symptoms and functional abilities get worse over time. Most people live for about 10 to 30 years after they first start having symptoms, but will eventually need help with all daily activities.
If you have a family history of Huntington's disease, meeting with a genetic counselor can help you decide whether or not to get tested to see if you are at risk.