SYMPTOMS
As mentioned earlier, this disease affects the following: movement ability, cognitive (thinking process) ability, and psychiatric disorders. Those modified functions show various symptoms, with its signs for most traits, which some can be dominant, resulting in a significant effect on that ability. However, those symptoms can change during the disease’s lifespan.
1. Movement Disorders
Symptoms for this function disorder mostly affect the body’s motor functions, causing involuntary movements and voluntary movements having some impairments, which are listed below:
- Jerking involuntarily or writhing movements (Chorea)
- Muscle problems such as muscle rigidity or contracture (Dystonia)
- Affected eye movements, such as slow or abnormal movements
- Altered balance, posture, and impaired gait
- Speech or swallowing difficulties
The symptoms above can severely affect an infected individual’s everyday life, wherein the workability, daily activities and chores, communication, and independence are profoundly impacted.
2. Cognitive Disorders
Symptoms for this function ability disorder are listed below:
- Prioritizing, organizing, and focusing difficulties on various tasks
- A high tendency to be stuck in their thoughts, behaviors, and actions (i.e., preservation) can result in a lack of flexibility.
- Sudden outbursts, thoughtless actions, and sexual promiscuity due to the lack of impulse control
- Lacking awareness for the own behavior abilities of a person
- Processing thoughts or words in a slow manner
- Learning new information in great difficulty
3. Psychiatric Disorders
Aside from movement and cognitive disorders, there are also psychiatric disorders associated with Huntington’s Disease, wherein the most commonly known disorder for this disease is depression. The reason why depression is common due to brain damage and functional changes of the illness, with the signs and symptoms of it listed below:
- Irritability, sadness or apathy
- Social withdrawal
- Insomnia
- Fatigue and loss of energy
- Having thoughts of death, dying, or suicide frequently.
Additionally, below are some of the other disorders associated with this disease:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder – symptoms for this are having recurrent, intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors.
- Mania – symptoms for this are mood elevation, overactivity, impulsive behavior, and inflated self-esteem.
- Bipolar disorder– symptoms for this are alternating episodes of depression and mania.
Juvenile Huntington’s Disease Symptoms
As mentioned earlier, Juvenile Huntington’s Disease has different symptoms with the regular one, which are listed below:
1. Behavioral changes
- Having difficulties in paying attention
- Noticeable drops in school performance, either rapidly or drastically
- Problems in behavior
2. Physical changes
- Muscles are usually contracted and rigid, affecting gait (usually with younger children)
- Tremors or slight involuntary movements
- Having falls or episodes of clumsiness frequently
- Seizures
Possible affected persons should see their doctor if they experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, mainly if it occurs to people in their 20s or younger.