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Huntington's Disease - Epidemiology

Huntington's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by choreoathetoid movements, behavioral disturbances, and progressive dementia. Huntington's disease is a known genetically linked disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance and complete penetrance. Individuals affected by Huntington's disease are first diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 60 and experience a gradual decline in function over a period of 10-25 years. Currently there are 30,000 individuals in the U.S. with Huntington's disease and 200,000 individuals at risk of inheriting the disease. Worldwide 5-10 persons per 100,000 people have Huntington's disease. There is no cure for Huntington's disease. Current treatment includes dopamine antagonists. Huntington's disease is universally fatal. Death is often secondary to infection (most often pneumonia), injuries related to falls, or other complications, although suicide is not uncommon.