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Is Huntington's Disease Hereditary?

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Posted on Fri, 26 Jun 2015
Question: I HAVE BEE DIAG. WITH HUNTINGTONS DESEase. im 75, how do I tell nmy childre4n/ grandchildren what they have just inherited,

what, youngest 1 week
should everybody be tested
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (43 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
They can be tested if they want

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominant disease, which means that there is a 50% chance of having passed the defective gene to each of your children. This also means that each of your children has a 50% chance of NOT having the gene.

There is genetic testing (the CAG repeat test) which may detect which individuals are more likely to develop symptoms of the disease in the future. The test may also detect, which individual that won't have the disease, may pass the defective gene to the offspring.

When to test, is a matter of choice of each one of your children. Usually genes inherited from females lead to disease later in life.

I hope I've helped!

Kind Regards!
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3816 Questions

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Is Huntington's Disease Hereditary?

Brief Answer: They can be tested if they want Detailed Answer: Hello, Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominant disease, which means that there is a 50% chance of having passed the defective gene to each of your children. This also means that each of your children has a 50% chance of NOT having the gene. There is genetic testing (the CAG repeat test) which may detect which individuals are more likely to develop symptoms of the disease in the future. The test may also detect, which individual that won't have the disease, may pass the defective gene to the offspring. When to test, is a matter of choice of each one of your children. Usually genes inherited from females lead to disease later in life. I hope I've helped! Kind Regards!