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Progression

Early Stages of HD

At this stage, people with HD can function quite well at work and at home. Early symptoms of the disease may include:
  • Difficulty organizing routine matters or coping effectively with new situations
  • Slightly decreased ability to recall information and make decisions
  • Increased difficulty with work activities
  • Decreased attention to details
  • Mood changes and irritability
  • Minor involuntary movements (e.g., “nervous” activity, fidgeting, a twitching of the limbs or excessive restlessness)

Intermediate Stages of HD

People may have increased difficulty working or managing a household but can still deal with most activities of daily living. Symptoms progress over time and may include:

  • More obvious involuntary movements (chorea)
  • Changes in handwriting or difficulty with daily tasks such as driving
  • Increased difficulty with walking, coordination and balance
  • Challenges with speaking (speech may become slurred) and delays in thinking process
  • Solving problems becomes more difficult
  • Difficulties with swallowing
  • Weight loss

Advanced Stages of HD

In the advanced stages of HD, people can no longer manage the activities of daily living and usually require professional care. Symptoms may include:
  • Decrease in involuntary movements and increase in rigidity
  • Professional care and assistive devices are required to move, bath, dress and eat
  • Increased difficulties with swallowing
  • Significant weight loss
  • The ability to communicate diminishes, but understanding what is being said remains possible

End-of-life Stage

Signs of end-of-life stage in HD may include:

  • Having little control over movement, severe chorea and/or extreme rigidity
  • Being completely dependent on others for care
  • Unable to speak but may still want to communicate
  • Unable to eat and drink on their own
People die of life-threatening conditions related to HD. The main causes of death are pneumonia, heart failure, heart attack, and “other HD-related causes” (e.g., malnutrition, dehydration, injuries from a fall, choking). 

Click below to learn more about HD

Overview

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Types of HD