Expert: Michalene Peticca - 1/3/2010

Question
QUESTION: I couldn't find another section for Huntington's disease, so i was wondering if you could help me, if so :
1) when a child inherits the gene, (has a 50percent chance from receiving it from the parents)and then they have a 50 percent chance of developing the disease, is that correct?
if they do inherit the huntinton gene, then they are at risk BECAUSE, the huntinton gene means that your cells can make the mistake in the process of copying the dna,autosome(sorry not sure what the word is)

is this correct, if not please help me understnad it more clearly.

ANSWER: Hello Ivan,

thank you for writing.  First, please note....there are some Excellent websites devoted Just to Huntington's Disease....especially through the Mayo Clinic.   I strongly urge you to "google" them and i believe you will find all the answers you are looking for related to this disease.

Huntington's Disease is under the classification of Dementias, because it is a progressive brain disease.  It does deteriorate the brain.

You are correct that it is a genetic disorder; however, although a child may inherit the gene, it does NOT mean that the gene may mutate and become Huntington's disease.   Researchers are still baffled by why some "carriers" of the gene do develop the disease and others do not.  It is not like Alzheimer's whereas we find the genetic link actually coming to fruition and causing generational Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers are tending to put Huntington's disease in the category with Pick's disease, whereby  they are wondering if outside influences "trigger" the gene mutation and create it to flourish.   Much like many of us carry cancer cells, but those cancer cells are dormant until a "trigger" occurs.  And, those "triggers" can be different for all of us.   Hence, the reason why so many diseases (cancer and brain diseases) are still unable to be cured.

Again, please access the Huntington's disease websites and i believe you will find a plethora of knowledge and perhaps some peace of mind!

Best Regards,
Michalene Peticca, MA

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Everyone who has the gene eventually develops Huntington's disease, if he or she lives long enough.

This is why i'm so confused about HD, some books says this, others say that.
Which is what's happening right now. :/ Straight from mayo clinic.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/huntingtons-disease/DS00401/DSECTION=causes

Here are some aditional questions that i'm confused about.
Does everyone already have the Huntington Gene?
Does the child inherit the Gene that will later in life cause the repeated CAG to happen?
Does the child inherit the >36 repeated CAG?
Does the child inherit the huntingtin protein which then causes the repeated CAG

Basically im confused on how a child can inherit it, i know it's dominant autosome but im confused!!!

Answer
Hi again Ivan,

You ask some Excellent questions.   Alzheimer's disease and Multi-infarct are more my areas of specialty.   Huntingdon's disease is so rare, that i have only seen 1 diagnosed case in my 25 years in healthcare!   

I would strongly suggest you write to some of the physicians on this site and perhaps they can better answer your questions.

You do have some excellent knowledge and i thank you for that!

Best Regards,
Michalene Peticca, MA