Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a life-limiting hereditary brain condition that affects a person’s physical abilities, emotions and thinking skills. Symptoms can vary significantly even between individuals in the same family. Over the course of the illness, from 15 to 25 years on average, people with HD will lose the ability to walk, talk, eat and manage their self-care and can also experience emotional and mental health changes.

Symptoms usually present between the age of 30 – 50 years when individuals may be raising families and midway through their working lives. Juvenile onset HD may occur in 5% – 10% of those affected, with onset before 20 years of age. Each child of a parent with the HD gene has a 50% chance of developing the condition. A HD diagnosis is very distressing for the entire family: the person diagnosed; their spouse/ partner; siblings, children at risk and extended family relatives.

The Huntington’s Disease Association of Ireland is a national charity which provides information and support  to individuals and families impacted by Huntington’s Disease.