The study of what factors may affect the health of individuals (epidemiology) is of particular use when trying to find cures for diseases that are not yet fully understood or which have limited or no treatments. The epidemiology of Huntington's disease can be broken down into factors such as carrier influence, age, gender, education and location.
Carrier Influence
According to the Movement Disorder Virtual University, a child with one parent who carries the gene for Huntington's disease child automatically has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the disease. If both parents are carriers, then the odds of the child developing symptoms increases greatly. Thus, the number of Huntington's disease cases generally increases wherever a large number of carriers are found.
Age
According to the Movement Disorder Virtual University and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, symptoms tend to appear earlier for those who inherit the condition from their father. They also appear earlier for people who have larger numbers of repeats of CAG (cytosine, adenine, and guanine), a particular base sequence found in DNA. However, in a text reproduced by the Huntington's Disease Society of America, Marilyn Wolff noted that Huntington's disease typically presents between the ages of 30 and 50. This may be because the gene is "turned on" later in life by an unknown factor.
Gender
Huntington's disease is found at about the same ratio in both males and females. Gender therefore is not a predictor of whether or not someone will develop the condition. However, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the fact that symptoms appear earlier if the disease is inherited from the father may be linked to the fact that the production of millions of sperm increases the chances of genetic mutations occurring. Also of note is the fact that those with juvenile onset Huntington's disease tend to have a more rapid progression of the disease.
Education
Symptoms of Huntington's disease do not always present before a couple has children. Carriers of the disorder often are unaware that they are carriers prior to reproduction, so they may not be educated about the disease, their reproductive options or the need to have family members tested. Information about Huntington's disease is poorly known, even in families where it is present.
Location
Huntington's disease is most common in people from Western Europe, although it is found in other areas such as Venezuela. Depending on the population, prevalence ranges from 4 to 10 per 100,000, according to the Movement Disorders Virtual University.
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