Huntington's disease (HD), known historically as Huntington's chorea and chorea major, is a rare inherited neurological disorder affecting up to approximately 1 person per 10,000 people of Western European descent and 1 per 1,000,000 of Asian and African descent. It takes its name from the New York physician George Huntington who described it precisely in 1872 in his first medical paper. HD has been heavily researched in the last few decades and it was one of the first inherited genetic disorders for which an accurate test could be performed. ...

Huntington's disease (HD), known historically as Huntington's chorea and chorea major, is a rare inherited neurological disorder affecting up to approximately 1 person per 10,000 people of Western European descent and 1 per 1,000,000 of Asian and African descent. It takes its name from the New York physician George Huntington who described it precisely in 1872 in his first medical paper. HD has been heavily researched in the last few decades and it was one of the first inherited genetic disorders for which an accurate test could be performed.

Huntington's disease is caused by a mutation in the gene coding for Huntingtin (Htt), a brain protein. This expansion produces an altered form of the Htt protein, mutant Huntingtin (mHtt), which results in neuronal cell (brain cell) death in select areas of the brain. Huntington's disease is a terminal (deadly) illness.

Huntington's disease's most obvious symptoms are abnormal body movements called chorea and a lack of coordination, but it also affects a number of mental abilities and some aspects of personality. These physical symptoms occur in a large range of ages, with a average occurrence in a person's late forties/early fifties. If the age of onset is below 20 years then it is known as Juvenile HD. As there is currently no proven cure, symptoms are managed with various medications and care methods.