HD is an inherited disease with symptoms, usually starting at mid-adulthood, causing a progressive loss of control over thoughts, feelings, behaviour, movement and communication until the person requires 24-hour care. Every child conceived naturally to a parent with HD has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease.
There are over 150 families affected by HD in Northern Ireland and currently no cure. The easiest way to describe HD is Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and MS all rolled into one.