Huntington's disease usually causes movement, cognitive and psychiatric disorders with a wide spectrum of signs and symptoms. Which symptoms appear first varies greatly from person to person. Some symptoms appear more dominant or have a greater effect on functional ability, but that can change throughout the course of the disease. Movement disorders The movement disorders associated with Huntington's disease can include both involuntary movement problems and impairments in voluntary movements, such as:  Involuntary jerking or writhing movements (chorea) Muscle problems, such as rigidity or muscle contracture (dystonia) Slow or unusual eye movements Impaired gait, posture and balance Difficulty with speech or swallowing  Impairments in voluntary movements — rather than involuntary movements — may have a greater impact on a person's ability to work, perform daily activities, communicate and remain independent. Cognitive disorders Cognitive impairments often associated with Huntington's disease include:  Difficulty organizing, prioritizing or focusing on tasks Lack of flexibility or the tendency to get stuck on a thought, behavior or action (perseveration) Lack of impulse control that can result in outbursts, acting without thinking and sexual promiscuity Lack of awareness of one's own behaviors and abilities Slowness in processing thoughts or ''finding'' words Difficulty in learning new information  Psychiatric disorders The most common psychiatric disorder associated with Huntington's disease is depression. This isn't simply a reaction to receiving a diagnosis of Huntington's disease. Instead, depression appears to occur because of injury to the brain and subsequent changes in brain function. Signs and symptoms may include:  Feelings of irritability, sadness or apathy Social withdrawal Insomnia Fatigue and loss of energy Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide  Other common psychiatric disorders include:  Obsessive-compulsive disorder, a condition marked by recurrent, intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors Mania, which can cause elevated mood, overactivity, impulsive behavior and inflated self-esteem Bipolar disorder, a condition with alternating episodes of depression and mania  In addition to the above disorders, weight loss is common in people with Huntington's disease, especially as the disease progresses. Symptoms of juvenile Huntington's disease The start and progression of Huntington's disease in younger people may be slightly different from that in adults. Problems that often present early in the course of the disease include: Behavioral changes  Difficulty paying attention Rapid, significant drop in overall school performance Behavioral problems  Physical changes  Contracted and rigid muscles that affect gait (especially in young children) Tremors or slight involuntary movements Frequent falls or clumsiness Seizures 
huntington's disease causes movement  cognitive psychiatric disorders wide spectrum signs symptoms  symptoms first varies greatly person person  symptoms dominant greater effect functional ability  can change course disease  movement disorders movement disorders associated huntington's disease can include involuntary movement problems impairments voluntary movements  as:  involuntary jerking writhing movements (chorea) muscle problems  rigidity muscle contracture (dystonia) slow unusual eye movements impaired gait  posture balance difficulty speech swallowing  impairments voluntary movements — involuntary movements — may greater impact person's ability work  perform daily activities  communicate remain independent  cognitive disorders cognitive impairments associated huntington's disease include:  difficulty organizing  prioritizing focusing tasks lack flexibility tendency stuck thought  behavior action (perseveration) lack impulse control can result outbursts  acting thinking sexual promiscuity lack awareness one's behaviors abilities slowness processing thoughts ''finding'' words difficulty learning new  psychiatric disorders common psychiatric disorder associated huntington's disease depression  isn't simply reaction receiving diagnosis huntington's disease  instead  depression occur injury brain subsequent changes brain function  signs symptoms may include:  feelings irritability  sadness apathy social withdrawal insomnia fatigue loss energy frequent thoughts death  dying suicide  common psychiatric disorders include:  obsessive-compulsive disorder  condition marked recurrent  intrusive thoughts repetitive behaviors mania  can cause elevated mood  overactivity  impulsive behavior inflated self-esteem bipolar disorder  condition alternating episodes depression mania  addition disorders  weight loss common people huntington's disease  especially disease progresses  symptoms juvenile huntington's disease start progression huntington's disease younger people may slightly adults  problems present early course disease include: behavioral changes  difficulty paying attention rapid  significant drop school performance behavioral problems  physical changes  contracted rigid muscles affect gait (especially young children) tremors slight involuntary movements frequent falls clumsiness seizures 
huntingtons disease