Huntington’s Disease

Shaw is able to offer nursing care for people in the later stages of Huntingdon’s disease as people gradually develop more, and worsening, symptoms. In the later stages of HD people will become more dependent on other people and require full nursing care and we can offer respite care to give full time family carers a break, care at home or eventually full time care within a nursing environment.

Huntington's disease is an inherited, genetic condition that affects the brain and nervous system. It is a slowly progressive condition that interferes with the movements of your body, can affect your cognition (your perception, reasoning, awareness, thinking and judgement) and can lead to a change in your behaviour. The symptoms occur because of damage and death of some of the neurones (brain cells) in particular parts of your brain. Genetic testing helps to diagnose Huntington's disease. At present there is no cure for Huntington's disease. Treatment is aimed at trying to control symptoms as much as possible when they develop.

Various new treatments for HD are being studied. They include gene therapy treatments and various drug treatments.