Huntington's Chorea (Noun)
Meaning
Hereditary disease; develops in adulthood and ends in dementia.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Huntington's chorea is a rare and fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain, leading to loss of muscle coordination and cognitive decline.
- Symptoms of Huntington's chorea typically begin in mid-life, around the age of 30 to 50, and worsen over the next 10 to 25 years, ultimately resulting in dementia and death.
- A genetic test can confirm the presence of the Huntington's chorea gene, which is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, meaning that a single copy of the mutated gene is enough to cause the disease.
- There is currently no cure for Huntington's chorea, and treatment options are limited to managing its symptoms, such as using medications to reduce involuntary movements and slow cognitive decline.
- Huntington's chorea affects approximately 1 in 10,000 people worldwide, and individuals with a family history of the disease are at increased risk of developing it themselves.