HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH (CA)
About Huntington\'s Disease Month in Canada
May is National Huntington Disease Awareness Month in Canada (and the United States).
Huntington disease (HD) is a genetic brain disorder that destroys life. It has been described as having Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Schizophrenia all at once.
HD causes cells in specific parts of the brain to die. As the disease progresses, a person with Huntington’s become less able to manage movements, recall events, make decisions and control emotions. The disease leads to incapacitation and, eventually, death.
HD is hereditary. A child born to a parent with HD has a 50% chance of sharing the same fate and all family members. One in every 7,000 Canadians has Huntington disease. Males and females have the same risk of inheriting the disease and HD occurs in all races.
HD is a middle age disease, its symptoms usually appear between the ages of 30 and 45, but in rare instances it has shown up in children as young as five and with people in their 70s. Currently it is incurable with no effective treatments.
In 2006, Canadian researchers were able to stop the progression of HD in mice. Dr. Sipione, from the University of Alberta, showed that injecting ganglioside GM1 into the brains of HD mice can reverse the motor symptoms of the disease. Her experiments provide evidence that it might be possible to develop drugs to reverse at least some of the effects of HD in humans.
In May of 2012, Dr. Ray Truant, of McMaster University, revealed a link between this fatal neurodegenerative disease and Alzheimer’s disease, a link that may point to potential drug targets for both diseases.
National Huntington Disease Awareness Month is a time for Canadians to learn about the disease, support those with it and raise funds and awareness toward a cure.
Huntington disease (HD) is a genetic brain disorder that destroys life. It has been described as having Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Schizophrenia all at once.
HD causes cells in specific parts of the brain to die. As the disease progresses, a person with Huntington’s become less able to manage movements, recall events, make decisions and control emotions. The disease leads to incapacitation and, eventually, death.
HD is hereditary. A child born to a parent with HD has a 50% chance of sharing the same fate and all family members. One in every 7,000 Canadians has Huntington disease. Males and females have the same risk of inheriting the disease and HD occurs in all races.
HD is a middle age disease, its symptoms usually appear between the ages of 30 and 45, but in rare instances it has shown up in children as young as five and with people in their 70s. Currently it is incurable with no effective treatments.
In 2006, Canadian researchers were able to stop the progression of HD in mice. Dr. Sipione, from the University of Alberta, showed that injecting ganglioside GM1 into the brains of HD mice can reverse the motor symptoms of the disease. Her experiments provide evidence that it might be possible to develop drugs to reverse at least some of the effects of HD in humans.
In May of 2012, Dr. Ray Truant, of McMaster University, revealed a link between this fatal neurodegenerative disease and Alzheimer’s disease, a link that may point to potential drug targets for both diseases.
National Huntington Disease Awareness Month is a time for Canadians to learn about the disease, support those with it and raise funds and awareness toward a cure.
PROMOTIONAL DETAILS
Event Sponsor:
Huntington Society of Canada
Videos
Images
Downloads
Huntington Disease Brochure
PSA about Huntington Disease
Bill To Ammend Human Rights Laws for Huntington Disease
