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What Is The Difference Between Huntington’s Disease And Parkinson’s Disease

Key Difference Parkinsons Vs Huntingtons Disease

Parkinson’s & Huntington’s: What’s the difference?

The key difference between Parkinsons and Huntingtons disease is that;Parkinson disease is a disorder with rigidity, tremors, slowing of movements, postural instability and gait disturbances usually occurring in old age due to degeneration of the substantia nigra of the midbrain while Huntingtons disease is a familial neurodegenerative disorder usually occurring in a younger population, characterized by emotional problems, loss of thinking ability and abnormal choreiform; movements .

Difference Between Huntingtons And Parkinsons

A human beings body faces several changes in its entire existence, and it undergoes various transformations. These transformations may either be physical or mental. Whenever a person notices something painful in whichever part of their body, he or she tries to treat it and cure it. However, the treatments depend on the severity and the type of the disease. But along with that, the diseases that a person is prone to catch also depends on their age.

As the person ages, he or she is prone to catch some diseases because of the several changes that take place in their body. Various organs in the human body undergo changes, and these changes are either beneficial to the body or lead to a disease or disorder. Considering the brain alone, a human brain at a certain human age group undergoes changes that lead to various changes. Two of these diseases are 1. Huntingtons disease, and 2. Parkinsons disease.

How Are They Alike

MS and Parkinsonâs both affect your central nervous system, which includes your brain and spinal cord. Thatâs why they both can affect how you move, sleep, feel, and talk.

These diseases both affect your nerves. MS can break down the coating, called myelin, that surrounds and protects your nerves. In Parkinsonâs, nerve cells in a part of your brain slowly die off.

Both can start out with mild symptoms, but they get worse over time.

Common symptoms of both diseases include:

  • Shaky fingers, hands, lips, or limbs
  • Slurred speech thatâs hard for others to understand
  • Numb or weak limbs that make your walk unsteady
  • Loss of muscle control that often affects one side of your body at first, then later both
  • Spastic limb movements that are hard to control
  • Loss of bladder or bowel control
  • Poor balance

Depression is another symptom common to both conditions.

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Huntingtons Disease Vs Parkinsons Disease Differences

Huntingtons disease results from degeneration of neurons and structures deep within the brain, that are responsible for coordination and movement. It is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder. This actually means that you need to inherit one copy of the defective gene in order to develop the disorder.

Although symptoms of HD can develop at almost any age, they typically start when an individual is aged between 35 and 55 years old. Only 6 to 10 percent of the cases are Juvenile HD .

Parkinsons disease is an age-related progressive deterioration of certain nerve systems in the brain, that affects balance, movement, and muscle control. Symptoms develop slowly and may start off with slight tremors in one hand.

Can Huntingtons Disease Be Treated

Basal ganglia parkinson

Currently, there is no known cure for Huntingtons disease or any treatment that can slow down the disease. The available treatments are only for symptoms in order to give the patient a better lifestyle.

For decreasing chorea, the patient is given medication that reduces the brains molecules that cause the erratic movements. These can be risperidone, olanzapine, tetrabenazine, pimozide, and many others, depending on their needs and the drugs availability.

In recent studies, tetrabenazine has proven to be the most effective against these symptoms, but the FDA hasnt approved it.

For psychiatric symptoms, there is a whole other spectrum of drugs that diminish these types of symptoms. Doctors treat irritability and depression with the same type of drugs, such as; serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, and carbamazepine.

For psychotic symptoms like hallucinations, other drugs function for treatment like; olanzapine, risperidone, clozapine, and quetiapine.

A new surgical study was recently born that consists of the transplant of neural cells with special fetal cells. It has shown improvement in some of the patients that applied to the research, but it is still too early to have precise results.

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What Is The Difference Between Huntingtons Disease And Parkinsons

Unfortunately, many people know someone who is affected by Huntingtons Disease or Parkinsons disease. The key difference between these two degenerative brain disorders is that while Huntingtons Disease causes emotional difficulties, cognitive abilities, and abnormal repetitive movements, Parkinsons causes a slowing of movements and affects mobility and muscle control due to rapid brain degeneration.;

Some of the other significant differences between the two are:

Stage of Life When Symptoms Appear: While Huntingtons Disease symptoms can begin to appear in early adulthood, Parkinsons Disease more commonly affects those who are 70 or older.;

Cause: Huntingtons Disease is caused by a defective gene, whereas Parkinsons is caused by the degeneration of neurons in the center of the brain.;

Life Expectancy Sadly, those affected by Huntingtons Disease are expected to live only 15-20 years after the first onset of symptoms. Conversely, Parkinsons has no effect on life expectancy but can dramatically reduce the quality of life for those affected.;

Is There A Link

Some people have MS and Parkinsonâs, but it could be a coincidence.

Research suggests that the damage that MS causes to your brain can lead some people to develop Parkinsonâs later on.

If you have MS, your immune system triggers ongoing inflammation. This can create lesions in your brain that cause Parkinsonâs disease. If lesions form in certain spots in your brain, they can affect how it makes dopamine.

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What Is The Survival Rate Of Huntington’s Disease

The rate of disease progression and duration varies. The time from disease emergence to death is often about 10 to 30 years. Juvenile Huntington’s disease usually results in death within 10 years after symptoms develop. The clinical depression associated with Huntington’s disease may increase the risk of suicide.

Which Is Worse Huntingtons And Als

Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease

Like ALS, the disease is always fatal, and the rate of progression is highly variable. People generally live with Huntingtons disease longer than ALS generally from 10-30 years. As it progresses, people living with the disease will eventually need round-the-clock care, losing the ability to move and speak.

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What Is Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system mainly affecting the motor system. The motor symptoms of Parkinsons disease result from the degeneration of dopamine generating cells in the substantia nigra in the midbrain. The causes of this cell death are poorly understood. Early in the course of the disease, the most obvious symptoms are shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty in walking and gait. Later, thinking and behavioral problems arise, with dementia commonly occurring in the advanced stages of the disease. Depression;is the most common psychiatric symptom. Other symptoms include sensory, sleep problems and emotionally related problems.

Parkinsons disease is more common in older people, and most cases occur after the age of 50; when it is seen in young, it is called young onset Parkinsons disease.Diagnosis is by medical history and physical examination. There is no cure for PD, but medications, surgery, and multidisciplinary management can provide relief from the disabling symptoms. The main classes of drugs useful for treating motor symptoms are levodopa, dopamine agonists, and MAO-B inhibitors. These drugs too can cause disabling side effects. Deep brain stimulation has been tried as a treatment modality with some success.

Easy Guide To The Different Types Of Dementia

Dementia is one of the most common conditions that our senior population faces. It can have strong effects on almost every aspect in your senior loved one’s life, but the world of dementia can be complex. Not every case of dementia is the same, which means caring for a senior with this condition requires specialized care. To help you provide your loved one with the best care possible, we’re here to help you understand the subtle differences between the many types of dementia with an in-depth guide.

We will cover the following types of dementia:

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Understanding The Differences Between Parkinsons And Lou Gehrigs Disease

By Angie Kunnath 7 pm on June 5, 2015

As Parkinsons disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis are both progressive neurodegenerative diseases, many people confuse the terms. Below, senior care experts at Home Care Assistance of Mississauga provide information on the basic differences between Parkinsons and ALS to help you better understand the two diseases.

What Are The Symptoms Of Huntingtons Disease

75+ Huntington Vs Parkinson

This disease typically does not start to affect the body until well into adulthood. Symptoms usually begin to emerge at some point between ages 30 and 50 but have also appeared as early as 2 and as late as 80. Huntingtons Disease affects people in three areas, their physical abilities, cognitive abilities, and mood regulation.;

Physical The Hallmark symptom of this disease is the uncontrolled and involuntary movement of the arms, face, legs, head, and upper body.;

Cognitive Huntingtons Disease also dramatically affects thinking skills. More specifically, reasoning, memory, judgment, and concentration skills are affected. There may also be significant organizational and planning skill deficits.;

Mood Many people who are affected by Huntingtons Disease exhibit uncharacteristic irritability or anger. They may also develop anxiety and depression despite having very stable mental health previously. It has also been widely recorded that those suffering from Huntingtons disease are also likely to develop OCD ;

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How Do People Cope With Huntingtons Disease

There are several measures that people can take to deal with the disease on a daily basis. It is important to remember that Huntingtons disease affects not only the person who has the symptoms. This disease affects the whole family in various ways, and all of them should find ways to cope.

Therapy is a big help for people who personally suffer from the disease, their caregivers, and their descendant. It is a grim outlook to feel your life decline and for your loved ones to see. Support groups and organizations also provide orientation and help to people who need it.

Another big problem, besides the psychological ones, is the mobility issues the patient faces. They may have to also go to a physiotherapist, a dietician, and even a speech therapist to deal with the progressive motor difficulties.

When the disease progresses, it may become harder for family members to take care of the patient on their own. They might have to consider additional help at home from a nurse or take them to a care facility. Specialized social agencies exist to orientate the families in those difficult processes and decisions they have to make.

Symptoms Of Huntington Disease

Symptoms of Huntington disease usually develop subtly, typically beginning between the ages of 35 and 40 but sometimes before adulthood.

During the early stages of Huntington disease, the face, trunk, and limbs may move involuntarily and rapidly. At first, people can blend these abnormal involuntary movements into purposeful ones so that the abnormal movements are barely noticeable. However, with time, the movements become more obvious.

Muscles may contract briefly and rapidly, causing the arms or another body part to suddenly jerk, sometimes several times in a row.

People may walk in a lilting or exaggeratedly jaunty way, like a puppet. They may grimace, flick the limbs, and blink more often. Movements become uncoordinated and slow. Eventually, the entire body is affected, making walking, sitting still, eating, speaking, swallowing, and dressing extremely difficult.

Mental changes frequently occur before or as the abnormal movements develop. These changes are subtle at first. People may gradually become irritable, excitable, and agitated. They may lose interest in their usual activities. They may be unable to control their impulses, losing their temper, having fits of despondency, or becoming promiscuous.

As Huntington disease progresses, people may behave irresponsibly and often wander aimlessly. Over years, they lose their memory and their ability to think rationally. They may become severely depressed and attempt suicide.

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What Foods Should Parkinson’s Patients Avoid

Eat too many sugary foods and drinks as these can negatively impact your immune system. Opt for naturally sweetened food and reduce your sugar intake to manage Parkinson’s symptoms. Eat too much protein. Consuming lots of beef, fish, or cheese may affect the effectiveness of certain Parkinson’s medications.

Are You Having Symptoms Of It

Living with Juvenile Huntington’s Disease

This tool is a Huntington disease symptoms checker. It gathers the most important signs, symptoms, and risk factors for this condition. Therefore, it will aid anybody who uses it to determine the likelihood of having Huntington disease or developing it in the future. Besides, this tool is free and would only take you a few minutes to use it.

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What Is The Most Common Cause Of Death In This Condition

The most common cause of death in Huntingtons disease is pneumonia and suffocation. Motor symptoms cause both problems.

When the condition is in its later stages, the person has poor muscle control, including those in the throat. This causes the main problem that leads to the patients death, which is not swallowing most foods adequately.

When the HD patient is being fed the food, whether it is liquid or not, it can go to the lungs. This small portion of food in the lungs carries anaerobic bacteria that cause pneumonia, which leads to the patients death.

Aspiration pneumonia can be more severe than common infections, especially if doctors do not identify quicky that its this type of infection, the one causing trouble and treat it as ordinary pneumonia. Suffocation happens when solid foods obstruct the upper airways in its totality because of the patients lack of muscle control.

Other causes of death are common such as:

  • Heart disease: People with this disease suffer from nerve conduction in the heart that can cause low heart rate and arrhythmia. It also generates heart failure.
  • Suicide: Usually in early or mid-stages of the disease because of the depression proper of the gene mutation that affects the brain.
  • Cachexia: Is a state in which the body deteriorates through the loss of muscle mass and fat. It happens mostly in chronic diseases and is not because of less food ingestion.

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How Is Huntingtons Disease Treated

At this point in time, there is no cure for Huntingtons Disease. There is also no known way to slow or prevent the disease from progressing. For now, treatment focuses on the management of symptoms and optimizing the quality of life for those affected. Each person affected by Huntingtons Disease will experience their symptoms uniquely. Meaning no two patients are the same, and no two patients exhibit identical symptoms.;

There are a wide variety of medications and therapies that are available to help people with Huntingtons Disease. It is important to practice patience and perseverance when beginning a new medication as it takes time to figure out how these medications interact with your body and with each other. It may take weeks or months to figure out the correct combination and dosage of medications.;

Speech therapy is also a very important part of a treatment plan for Huntingtons Disease. One of our highly specialized virtual speech therapists can offer support and guidance on the road to managing symptoms. Connect with one of our speech therapists by scheduling your free introductory calltoday!

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Main Differences Between Huntingtons And Parkinsons

  • Huntingtons disease is a genetic disorder and is inherited from the parents to the offspring. On the other hand, Parkinsons disease is a non-genetic disease.
  • The genetic disorder or disease that is inherited from a parent to an offspring due to the presence of an abnormal gene in the offsprings body is known as Huntingtons disease, on the other hand, The disease that occurs to a person due to the less production of dopamine from the nerve cells from the brain due to either genetic composition or environmental impacts is known as the Parkinsons disease.
  • Huntingtons disease is caused by the presence of abnormal genes in the offsprings body. On the other hand, Parkinsons disease is caused by a decrease in the production of dopamine.
  • Huntingtons disease can not be cured. On the other hand, Parkinsons disease can be cured.
  • Huntingtons disease can not be prevented as it is a genetic disorder. On the other hand, Parkinsons disease can be prevented.
  • Human Fetal Tissue As A Source Of Progenitor Cells

    Endocannabinoids and Neurodegenerative Disorders ...

    The first study demonstrating that dopaminergic neurons could be replaced using fetal tissue was performed using 6-hydroxydopamine -lesioned rats that were implanted with DA-rich ventral mesencephalic tissue from rat fetuses . These studies were followed by the generation of the first non-human primates PD model: monkeys lesioned with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine . This model manifested several of the patients symptoms, and transplanting primate fetal mesencephalic tissue into their striatum showed to alleviate these symptoms . These studies set foot for the first PD cell replacement therapy in humans. These clinical trials were performed using dopaminergic neuron precursors from human fetal tissue, which were transplanted into the striatum of PD patients . Transplanted tissue presented no negative effects at the transplantation site, was functional and survived in the transplanted brain region, but clinical benefits were variable .

    Table 3. Common animal models of Parkinsons Disease.

    Table 4. Common animal models of Huntingtons disease.

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    What Is Alzheimer’s Disease

    Alzheimer’s disease , the most common form of dementia among older adults, is an irreversible degeneration of the brain that causes disruptions in memory, cognition, personality, and other functions that eventually lead to death from complete brain failure. Genetic and environmental factors including diet, activity, smoking, traumatic brain injury, diabetes, and other medical diseases contribute to the risk of developing this form of the disease. The hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease are the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques between nerve cells in the brain and neurofibrillary tangles, which are twisted fibers found inside the brain’s cells). These tangles consist primarily of a protein called tau.

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