 Huntington's Disease
- In March 2000, the Huntington's Disease Society of America named the University of Virginia Health System a Center of Excellence for the care of patients with HD and their families. The UVa HD Program was one of the first 10 Huntington's Centers of Excellence in the nation and is the only one in Virginia.
- What is Huntington's Disease?
- Do You Have A Genetic Risk?
- Our Huntington's Clinic
- Additional Services
- Research Projects
- Center of Excellence Award Article
 What is Huntington's Disease?
- HD is a genetic disorder that is passed from one generation to the next. Each child of a parent with HD has a 50% chance of inheriting the gene that causes HD. Both males and females may have HD and may transmit the gene to sons and daughters. All ethnic groups are affected. The symptoms of HD usually appear during the late 30s to mid-40s, but sometimes become apparent in young children or the elderly. Symptoms vary widely, but three areas are commonly affected: personality, thinking and movement.
Emotional and behavioral changes such as depression, irritability, anxiety, aggressive outbursts, mood swings and social withdrawal can occur in people with HD. Thinking abilities such as short-term memory, organizational and coping skills may be impaired. Physical symptoms such as fidgeting, twitching and difficulties in coordination may appear, gradually leading to more obvious involuntary movements of the head, trunk, and limbs as the disorder progresses. The ability to walk and maintain balance may be affected, as can speech and swallowing.
Symptoms typically become worse as time passes, so treatment is changed to try to respond to the patient's needs.
Are you at risk for HD?- We can help you find the answer. Our Predictive Testing program is for individuals who have a family history of Huntington's Disease and want to know if they have inherited the HD gene. Our program follows the protocol recommended by the Huntington's Disease Society of America and endorsed by academic centers and testing laboratories nationwide. It is designed to help each person weigh the risks and benefits of undergoing testing.
Learn more about our Predictive Testing Program.
Our Huntington's ClinicI have dealt with Huntington's in my family for almost 25 years. The UVa Clinic staff are always available and eager to help with every need we have.
--Mother of a Patient
- The University of Virginia Health System has a Huntington's Clinic that draws people from hundreds of miles away. Each clinic visit is tailored to the needs of the individual patient. During any visit to our multidisciplinary clinic our patients can receive care and attention from:
- neurologists
- psychiatrists
- neuro-psychologists
- physical therapists
- occupational therapists
- speech pathologists
- nutritionists
- genetic counselors
- social workers.
Meeting special needsMy wife and I are impressed with the program….It is very helpful to both patients and caregivers.
--Brother-in-law of a Patient
- In addition to the multidisciplinary care provided by the Huntington's Clinic, our patients and their families can take advantage of a range of helpful services, including special meals and transportation.
Research Projects- In addition to our clinical trials, we are conducting research into ways that HD affects patients' daily lives.
- Find a physician specializing in Huntington's.
- Learn how to make an appointment.
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