Huntington's Disease : Symptoms

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease: Anxiety, stress, and tension; Difficulty swallowing; Speech impairment. In children: Rigidity; Slow movements; Tremor.

The symptoms of HD fall into three categories: motor or movement symptoms, personality and behavioral changes, and cognitive decline. The severity and rate of progression of each type of symptom can vary from person to person. Early motor symptoms...

Some neurological changes have been seen in HD. However, the connection of many of these changes to the disease's symptoms is still not understood. Atrophy of the basal ganglia and corpus striatum are common neurological findings in HD, which may ...

Huntington disease is caused by a defect in the gene (an inherited unit which contains a code for a protein) of unknown function called huntingtin. The nucleotide codes (building blocks of genes arranged in a specific code which chemically forms i...

The symptoms of HD fall into three categories: motor or movement symptoms, personality and behavioral changes, and cognitive decline. The severity and rate of progression of each type of symptom can vary from person to person. Early motor symptoms...

A seizure is the physical findings or changes in behavior that occur after an episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. See also: Generalized tonic clonic seizure; Partial (focal) seizure; Petit mal (absence) seizure; Epilepsy; Fever (febrile) convulsions (seizures in children with high fever.

A seizure is a sudden change in behavior characterized by changes in sensory perception (sense of feeling) or motor activity (movement) due to an abnormal firing of nerve cells in the brain. Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures that may include repetitive muscle jerking called convulsions.

Detailed information on epilepsy and seizures, including the different types of seizures, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

A seizure is a sudden change in behavior characterized by changes in sensory perception (sense of feeling) or motor activity (movement) due to an abnormal firing of nerve cells in the brain . Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures that may include repetitive muscle jerking called convulsions.

Detailed information on epilepsy and seizures, including the different types of seizures, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

Detailed information on epilepsy and seizures, including the different types of seizures, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

A temporary series of uncontrollable muscle spasms brought on by unusual electrical activity in the brain. Also known as convulsion, clonic seizure, or tonic-clonic seizure. A seizure is characterized by a sudden episode of un- controllable brain activity. The intense, involuntary muscular contractions that often accompany seizures are referred to as convulsions. Seizures normally last three to five minutes, with a period of unconsciousness that may last for up to 30 minutes. Seizures can result from a chronic condition, such as epilepsy. Alternatively, convulsions may be related to an acute condition, such as a high fever, adverse reaction to medication, or infection. In childhood, the most common cause of convulsion, or seizure, is high fever. Seizures triggered by fever are referred to as febrile seizures. Seizures can also result from encephalitis, meningitis, otitis media (middle ear infection), or from the ingestion of large doses of drugs, such as antidepressants or stimulants. There are two types of seizures: grand mal and petit mal. Grand mal seizures involve intense contractions of the muscles of the trunk and limbs. Immediately prior to the seizure, the patient may have some indication that it is imminent. During the seizure the patient becomes un- conscious and experiences generalized muscle contractions, known as clonic seizures, that may distort the body. Thrashing movements of the limbs follow, caused by opposing sets of muscles alternating in contractions (hence, the other name for grand mal seizures: tonic- clonic seizures). The patient may also lose bladder control. When the seizure ceases, usually after three to five minutes, the patient may remain unconscious for up to half an hour. Upon waking, he or she may not remember having had a seizure and may be confused. Petit mal seizures last approximately 30 seconds, during which the patient may experience subtle signs of irregular brain activity before returning to normal activity. Signs of petit mal seizures include blinking, staring into space, or pausing in conversation. Petit mal seizures are hereditary, and only occur only in children and adolescents under age 20. The seizures may occur several times a day, usually when the patient is quiet. After puberty, petit mal seizures usually disappear or are replaced by grand mal seizures. Status epilepticus is a very rare but potentially lifethreatening condition in which grand mal seizures occur in rapid succession with no period of recovery between them. The patient may have difficulty breathing and experience a dangerous rise in blood pressure. Status epilepticus can be triggered by abruptly discontinuing medication prescribed for epilepsy, or by alcohol withdrawal. Although observing a child experiencing a seizure can be alarming, the incident itself rarely leads to serious injury or complications. People of all ages who experience seizures are more adversely affected by misconceptions and stigma attached to seizures than by the seizure itself. For many individuals, the unpredictableness and loss of control over one's body are the most difficult aspects of seizure. Adolescents, particularly susceptible to seizure associated with epilepsy, may find the loss of control and dependence on others especially disturbing. Adolescents (and adults) with epilepsy are restricted from participating in certain activities, such as driving a car or riding a motorcycle, scuba diving, and gymnastics. Seizures associated with epilepsy can usually be controlled with anticonvulsant medication. Education and consistent medication will help the patient adjust to seizure activity and carry on a normal life, with some restrictions. Occasionally, an adolescent who does not respond to medication may find relief in a surgical procedure to remove brain tissues. Children who experience even one episode of febrile seizure (associated with high fever) were formerly treated with anticonvulsant medication as a preventive measure. The National

Detailed information on epilepsy and seizures, including the different types of seizures, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

Children with epilepsy may have seizures only once in a while, or every day. Though seizures can be scary for parents and caregivers, they aren’t painful and are usually brief.

First Aid: SeizuresA seizure results from a sudden rush of abnormal electrical signals in the brain. Symptoms may range from a minor daze to uncontrollable muscle spasms(convulsion).In some cases, the victim may even lose consciousness.

Although not a psychiatric disorder, epilepsy has a psychiatric aspect. The link is manifested in similar, often overlapping, symptoms, so it is important that caregivers diagnose and treat their patients with care.

People with certain mental conditions can experience seizures that appear to be epilepsy but are actually psychogenic seizures. Studies are finding ways to distinguish between the two types to facilitate proper treatment.

How does estrogen use and menopause affect someone with a seizure disorder?

Chorea refers to brief, repetitive, jerky, or dancelike uncontrolled movements caused by muscle contractions that occur as symptoms of several different disorders. The English word "chorea" itself comes from the Greek word choreia , which means "dance." The symptom takes its name from the rapid involuntary jerking or twitching movements of the patient's face, limbs, and upper body.

Tremors are a type of involuntary shaking movement. Involuntary means you shake without trying to do so. See also: Drug-induced tremor; Essential tremor; Familial tremor; Hand tremor.

Tremor is an unintentional (involuntary) rhythmical alternating movement that may affect the muscles of any part of the body. Tremor is caused by the rapid alternating contraction and relaxation of muscles and is a common symptom of diseases of the nervous system (neurologic disease).

Tremor is an unintentional (involuntary), rhythmical alternating movement that may affect the muscles of any part of the body. Tremor is caused by the rapid alternating contraction and relaxation of muscles and is a common symptom of diseases of the nervous system (neurologic disease).

Tremor is an unintentional (involuntary), rhythmical alternating movement that may affect the muscles of any part of the body. Tremor is caused by the rapid alternating contraction and relaxation of muscles and is a common symptom of diseases of the nervous system (neuro-logic disease).

Uncontrollable movements are slow, twisting, continuous, and involuntary movements of the arms, legs, face, neck, or other parts of the body. See also: Tardive dyskinesia

Movement disorders are a group of diseases and syndromes affecting the ability to produce and control bodily movements.

Mood disorders are mental disorders characterized by periods of depression, sometimes alternating with periods of elevated mood.

Detailed information on the most common types of mood disorders, including major depression, manic depression (bipolar disorder), dysthymia, seasonal affective disorder, and suicide

Research on the connection between a person's mood and the food he or she eats has reveled what many people have long believed, that eating a certain food can influence a person's mood—at least temporarily. Research by Judith Wurtman, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has focused on how certain foods alter one's mood by influencing the level of certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters . While many other factors influence the level of these chemicals, such as hormones , heredity, drugs , and alcohol, three neurotransmitters—dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin —have been studied in relation to food, and this research has shown that neurotransmitters are produced in the brain from components of certain foods.

Understanding Affective (Mood) DisordersMost people have mood changes now and then. One day they may feel cranky and the next day, they feel great.

Treating Affective (Mood) DisordersAffective disorders are disorders of your mood. They includedepressionandbipolar disorder(also calledmanic-depression).

Colds and the flu can be passed from one person to another, but did you realize that emotions can be passed just as easily?

For many women, the "baby blues" pass quickly. For others, the feelings of sadness don't ease and may become worse.

Personality changes are alterations in the behavior, thinking and interactions of a person from their established character. These changes may be indicative of chemical dependencies, psychiatric illness, dementia, trauma, illness, altered body chemistry or temperature, or poisoning.

Muscle twitches are fine movements of a small area of muscle.

Muscle rigidity is an alteration of muscle tone in which the muscles are in an involuntary state of continual tension. Muscle rigidity can be a manifestation of neurological damage (basal ganglia diseases) or a side effect of certain medications.

Mental retardation is a condition diagnosed before age 18 that includes below-average general intellectual function, and a lack of the skills necessary for daily living.

(Also called sociocultural or cultural-familial retardation) Mild mental retardation attributed to environmental causes and generally involving some degree of psychosocial disadvantage. The majority of persons suffering from mental retardation fall into the category of familial retardation rather than that of clinical retardation, which usually has neurological or other organic causes. Persons with familial retardation typically have IQs ranging from 55-69 and show no signs of physical disability. Environmental causes thought to contribute to familial retardation include the quality of the mother's prenatal care, maternal and child nutrition, family size, the spacing of births within a family, disease, and health risks from environmental toxins such as lead. The 1994 publication of The Bell Curve, an analysis, by Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray, of the relative importance of heredity and environment in determining IQ scores, and the 1995 release of the most in-depth study to date on retardation among school children both renewed public interest in familial retardation and its causes. Familial retardation is usually not detected until a child enters school and has academic difficulties, at which point the teacher recommends psychological evaluation. Unlike the parents of clinically retarded children, who generally seek out help for their youngsters, the parents of those with familial retardation may take offense when their children are labeled mentally retarded and deny that there is a problem, especially since their children are often able to function competently in their daily lives outside school. Some studies have shown that educators are more likely to classify poor and/or minority children as mentally retarded, while labeling white middle-class children with comparable IQ scores as learning disabled. Other critics have pointed out that familial retardation may be diagnosed in children who are simply unprepared to cope with the demands of school because of cultural and linguistic isolation. Familial retardation may be reduced by nutritional, health, and educational intervention at an early age. In a study conducted in the 1970s, educators selected mother-child pairs from among a group of women with IQs under 75 living in the poorest section of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, while establishing a control group of mothers in the same neighborhood with IQs over 100. For the first five years of the children's lives, the targeted group of mothers and their children received instruction in problem-solving and language skills, as well as counseling to motivate them to learn and succeed. The mothers and children in the control group received no form of environmental enrichment. At the age of five, the children in the target group had IQ scores averaging 26 points higher than those of the children in the control group. At the age of nine, their average IQ was 106 (slightly above the universal norm of 100), while that of the other children was only 79. (Later results, however, were somewhat disappointing, as the mothers' motivation to continue the program became difficult to maintain over the long term.) In 1995, an Atlanta study conducted jointly by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University found important new evidence linking mild retardation to social and educational deprivation. It was found that 8.4 out of every 1,000 10-year-olds were mildly retarded (defined as an IQ of 50-70), while 3.6 of every 1,000 suffered severe retardation due to such conditions as cerebral palsy or Down syndrome. The incidence of mild retardation was 2.6 higher in blacks than whites, although this difference was halved when socioeconomic factors were taken into account. Children of all races were four times as likely to be mildly retarded if their mothers had not finished high school. The incidence of mental retardation was also slightly higher for children of teenage mothers. The Atlanta study also confirmed earlier claims th

Below-average intellectual abilities that are present before the age of 18 and interfere with developmental processes and with the ability to function normally in daily life (adaptive behavior). The term mental retardation is commonly used to refer to people with an intelligence quotient (IQ) below 70. An IQ of 80-130 is considered the normal range, and 100 is considered average. According to the definition in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV), a mentally retarded person is significantly limited in at least two of the following areas: self-care, communication, home living, social/inter-personal skills, self-direction, use of community resources, functional academic skills, work, leisure, health, and safety. Mental retardation affects roughly 1% of the American population. According to the U.S. Department of Education, about 11% of school-aged children were enrolled in special education programs for students with mental retardation. There are four categories of mental retardation: mild, moderate, severe, and profound. The roughly 80% of retarded persons who are classified as mildly retarded have an IQ between 50 or 55 and 70. Mild retardation, which may not be detected in early childhood, usually involves little sensorimotor impairment. Persons in this category can be educated up to a sixth-grade level. With adequate vocational guidance, they can live and work productively in the community as adults, either independently or with some degree of supervision. About 10% of retarded persons are classified as moderately retarded, with IQs generally between 35 and 50. Although they usually do not progress beyond the second-grade level academically, as adults they can take care of themselves within supervised settings and perform unskilled or semiskilled work. Persons with severe retardation, who account for 3-4% of the retarded population, have serious language and motor impairment. They usually do not speak in early childhood but can learn communication and basic self-care during the school years. Their language skills may be limited to the most basic functional words necessary to meet their daily needs. As adults, they live either with their families, in group homes, or, when necessary, in facilities that can provide skilled medical or nursing care. Profound retardation, which accounts for 1-2% of the retarded population, is usually associated with a neurological condition. It is characterized by severe sensorimotor difficulties beginning in early childhood and serious long-term limitations on both communication and the ability to care for oneself. Some profoundly retarded individuals are never able to speak or to be toilet trained. Most need constant care throughout their lives. In addition to the categories of mild, moderate, severe, and profound retardation, separate categories are sometimes used to designate those retarded persons who can benefit from some degree of academic training. Those designated "educable mentally retarded" (EMR) can handle academic work at a third- to sixth-grade level, and usually have IQs that fall between 50 and 75. The "trainable mentally retarded" (TMR) have IQs of between 30 and 50 and can progress as far as second-grade RATE OF MENTAL RETARDATION AMONG SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN BY U.S. STATE, 1993 State Children aged 6-17 with mental retardation per 1,000 population State Children aged 6-17 with mental retardation per 1,000 population Alabama 31.4 Montana 7.1 Alaska 5.0 Nebraska 15.3 Arizona 7.7 Nevada 6.6 Arkansas 23.1 New Hampshire 4.0 California 4.5 New Jersey 3.2 Colorado 4.2 New Mexico 5.6 Connecticut 7.1 New York 5.7 Delaware 14.4 North Carolina 19.5 District of Columbia 13.5 North Dakota 8.9 Florida 14.8 Ohio 22.5 Georgia 20.0 Oklahoma 19.7 Hawaii 8.0 Oregon 7.6 Idaho 12.1 Pennsylvania 14.0 Illinois 10.4 Rhode Island 5.9 Indiana 17.8 South Carolina 21.9 Iowa 21.2 South Dakota 9.3 Kansas 10.9 Tennessee 14.3 Kentucky 25.5 Texas 6.4 Louisiana 12.9 Utah

Mental retardation is a developmental disability that first appears in children under the age of 18. It is defined as an intellectual functioning level (as measured by standard tests for intelligence quotient) that is well below average and significant limitations in daily living skills (adaptive functioning).

Mental retardation is a developmental disability that first appears in children under the age of 18. It is defined as an intellectual functioning level (as measured by standard tests for intelligence quotient) that is well below average and significant limitations in daily living skills (adaptive functioning).

Mental retardation (MR) is a developmental disability that first appears in children under the age of 18. It is defined as a level of intellectual functioning (as measured by standard intelligence tests ) that is well below average and results in significant limitations in the person's daily living skills (adaptive functioning).

Mental retardation (MR) is a developmental disability that first appears in children under the age of 18. It is defined as a level of intellectual functioning (as measured by standard intelligence tests) that is well below average and results in significant limitations in the person's daily living skills (adaptive functioning).

Speech and language impairment may be any of several problems that make it difficult to communicate. See also: Stuttering; Expressive language disorder - developmental.

Treatment for the improvement or cure of communication disorders, including both speech problems and language disorders. Formerly referred to as speech therapy, the techniques, strategies, and interventions designed to improve or correct communication disorders are known as speech-language pathology. Both speech disorders, which involve difficulty in producing the sounds of language, and language disorders, which involve difficulty in understanding language or using words in spoken communication, are treated by speech-language pathologists. In 1993 there were nearly 70,000 speech-language pathologists in the United States certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Speech disorders treated by speech-language pathologists include voice disorders (abnormalities in pitch, volume, vocal quality, or resonance or duration of sounds), articulation disorders (problems producing speech sounds), and fluency disorders (impairment in the normal rate or rhythm of speech, such as stuttering). Language disorders in children involve the comprehension or use of spoken or written language. They may represent an isolated problem, or they may be associated with mental retardation, autism, hearing impairment, or acquired aphasia. Speech-language pathologists participate in the screening, assessment, and treatment of patients. Children with isolated speech disorders are often helped by articulation therapy, in which they practice repeating specific sounds, words, phrases, and sentences. For stuttering and other fluency disorders, a popular treatment method is fluency training, which develops coordination between speech and breathing, slows down the rate of speech, and develops the ability to prolong syllables. A child may practice saying a single word fluently and then gradually add more words, slowly increasing the amount and difficulty of speech that can be mastered without stuttering. The speaking situations can gradually be made more challenging as well, starting with speaking alone to the pathologist and ending with speaking to a group of people. Delayed auditory feedback (DAF), in which stutterers hear an echo of their own speech sounds, has also been effective in treating stuttering. When a speech problem is caused by serious or multiple disabilities, a neurodevelopmental approach, which inhibits certain reflexes to promote normal movement, is often preferred. Other techniques used in speech therapy include the motor-kinesthetic approach and biofeedback, which helps children know whether the sounds they are producing are faulty or correct. For children with severe communication disorders, speech pathologists can assist with alternate means of communication, such as manual signing and computer-synthesized speech. The majority of speech-language pathologists work in educational institutions, many of them in public elementary schools. They are also found at both residential health care facilities and over 300 outpatient clinics that specialize in communication disorders and are often affiliated with hospitals and universities. Professional training programs in speech-language pathology are offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Undergraduate training may include classes in biology, anatomy, psychology, linguistics, education, and special education. Most clinicians hold a master's degree in communications sciences and disorders from a program accredited by the ASHA.

Detailed information on speech and voice disorders, including spasmodic dysphonia and stuttering

Speech disorders are characterized by a difficulty in producing normal speech patterns.

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), a language disorder is an impairment in comprehension use of the spoken, written, or other symbol system.

Speech-language pathology is the treatment for the improvement or cure of communication disorders, including speech, language, and swallowing disorders. The term used to describe professionals in this discipline is speech and language pathologist (SLP).

A speech disorder is a communication disorder characterized by an impaired ability to produce speech sounds or normal voice, or to speak fluently.

The field of speech pathology, formerly known as speech therapy, is concerned with disorders of speech and language. A speech-language pathologist is a professional trained to diagnose and treat language and speech disorders .

Irritability is an excessive response to stimuli.

Children can become cranky, fussy or irritable for many reasons. Often it's because they're hungry or just tired. But sometimes irritability can be a sign of illness in children.

Don't Catch a Bad MoodLike the common cold, human emotions are highly contagious."It's easy to get swept up in somebody else's emotions," says James Page, M.D., a psychiatrist in Greenville, SC.

Memory loss (amnesia) is unusual forgetfulness.

A practical guide to the causes of memory loss and the steps you can take to improve your ability to learn and remember for a lifetime.

Memory loss can be partial or total. Most memory loss occurs as part of the normal aging process. However, memory loss may also occur as a result of severe emotional trauma or due to brain damage following disease or physical trauma. Memory loss can be described as amnesia, forgetfulness, or impaired memory.

In older people, it's easy to mistake memory problems for the everyday forgetfulness that some people experience as they grow older.

The health of your heart can affect your mind: Research shows risk factors for heart disease and stroke may also contribute to memory loss or Alzheimer's disease.

This report is an important reference tool for patients and caregivers alike. Offers information on the symptoms, causes, and treatments for this debilitating condition, as well as caregiving tips.

Amnesia refers to the loss of memory. Memory loss may result from two-sided (bilateral) damage to parts of Memory loss may result from bilateral damage to the limbic system of the brain responsible for memory storage, processing, and recall. (Illustration by Electronic Illustrators Group ). the brain vital for memory storage, processing, or recall (the limbic system, including the hippocampus in the medial temporal lobe).

Unpredictable, frustrating and, at times, embarrassing memory lapses can be common. So if frequent bouts of forgetfulness are causing you stress and worry, take note: there is most likely a simple explanation.

Confusion is the inability to think with your usual speed or clarity, including feeling disoriented and having difficulty paying attention, remembering, and making decisions.

Bruxism is when you clench (tightly hold your top and bottom teeth together) or grind (slide your teeth back and forth over each other) your teeth.

Bruxism is the habit of clenching and grinding the teeth. It most often occurs at night during sleep, but it may also occur during the day. It is an unconscious behavior, perhaps performed to release anxiety , aggression, or anger.

Detailed information on bruxism, including causes, diagnosis, and treatment

Bruxism is a habitual grinding or clenching of the teeth. The behavior is usually unconscious, occurs most often during sleep, and is a reaction to periods of stress in the patient's life.

Bruxism is the habit of clenching and grinding the teeth. It most often occurs at night during sleep, but may also occur during the day. It is an unconscious behavior or habit perhaps performed to release anxiety , aggression, or anger.

Many people with cancer experience memory changes—such as mild forgetfulness, an inability to concentrate on more than one task, or more severe memory loss—after undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments. In other cases, as in a person with a brain tumor, the cancer itself may cause memory changes. Surgical interventions, particularly for brain cancer, may also lead to memory loss.

Muscle stiffness is feeling of tension and contraction in the muscles, that may limit normal range of motion. Sometimes muscles feel stiff after periods of vigorous use, for example athletic activities, physical labor or weight lifting.

Spasticity is stiff or rigid muscles with exaggerated, deep tendon reflexes (for example, a knee-jerk reflex. The condition can interfere with walking, movement, or speech. See also: Muscle cramps

Spasticity is a form of muscle overactivity. A spastic muscle is one in which a muscle resists being stretched out, and the resistance to stretch is greater the faster the muscle is moved. Spasticity is often used as an umbrella term for other forms of muscle overactivity that often occur at the same time in the same patient.

Spasticity is an abnormal increase in muscle tone. It may be associated with involuntary muscle spasms , sustained muscle contractions (dystonia), and exaggerated deep tendon reflexes that make movement difficult or uncontrollable. Although it most commonly affects the legs and arms, spasticity can affect any part of the body including the trunk, neck, eyelids, face, or vocal cords.

Uncontrolled or slow movement is defined as a problem with muscle tone, usually in large muscle groups, that leads to slow involuntary contractions of the head, limbs, trunk, or neck. See also: Movement - unpredictable or jerky; Stereotypic movement disorder; Tremor; Uncoordinated movement; Uncontrollable movements.

Dystonia is a group of complex neurological movement disorders. While the disorders vary in their symptoms, causes, progression, and treatment, dystonia is characterized by involuntary muscle contractions and spasms that result in abnormal postures and movements. Focal dystonias—which affect a single part of the body, such as the face, arms, or vocal chords—are the most common.

Dystonia is a group of complex neurological movement disorders. While the disorders vary in their symptoms, causes, progression, and treatment, dystonia is characterized by involuntary muscle contractions and spasms that result in abnormal postures and movements. Focal dystonias—which affect a single part of the body, such as the face, arms, or vocal chords—are the most common.

Dystonia is a disabling movement disorder characterized by sustained contraction of muscles leading to twisting distorted postures. Dystonia may affect various parts of the body and has multiple causes, making classification and diagnosis challenging. The etiology behind the various forms of dystonia is unknown, although abnormal functioning of the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia and other pathways involved in movement are presumed. Clinical and basic science research on humans and primates, and identification of multiple genes causing dystonia have improved the understanding and treatment of this debilitating disorder.

Chronic motor tic disorder involves quick, uncontrollable movements or vocal outbursts (but not both.