Like many other diseases and illnesses, Huntington’s disease can have a much bigger impact upon the elderly than it would on younger folk. Like other degenerative diseases, symptoms tend to get worse and worse over time, meaning that the elderly often struggle with things like this far more so than other populations of people would.
Not too long ago, I wrote another piece on Huntington’s disease. If you’re unfamiliar with Huntington’s and what it is, I recommend going back and re-reading that piece so that the information here can be a little more helpful for you.
New research from the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York indicates that at least some of the defects that come along with Huntington’s is likely because of a malfunction in glias, a support cell that helps with brain functioning. Prior to this, Huntington’s was considered a neuronal disease, resulting from the loss of medium spiny motor neurons. And while this is certainly part of the disease, it might not be the only component of it.
Ultimately, a better understanding of the disease means better ways to treat the disease. It doesn’t mean that a cure is right around the corner, but it does mean that we might be a step closer to finding one. It also means that those who have this disease are likely to see better treatments emerging in the next few years.
This study was recently published in Cell Reports. There’s still a long way to go to help make the quality of life that those with Huntington’s experience a little bit better, but there’s a good chance that this will spur future researchers forward.
Huntington’s disease is genetic and ultimately fatal. If someone is born with the disease, there’s no cure for it and ultimately that person will pass away from it. But because treatment and symptom control have improved dramatically over the years, there are often elderly individuals that suffer from this disease. But as I stated above, this presents a unique and difficult set of circumstances when it comes to care.
Regardless of the challenges that your family might be facing, there are resources that can help. But for many people, they are unsure of where to even start. That’s where our service can help. We provide in-home care designed to help seniors get the most out of their later years. But that’s not all that we do. We also provide a free consultation session that is perfect for those that are just get started and might not know exactly what they’re looking for when it comes to senior care.
If you’d like to learn more about how care might benefit your family, please feel free to reach out. One of our trained professionals would be happy to sit down with you and introduce you to the world of senior care and what an ideal situation might look like for you and your family. We know that in-home care isn’t perfect for everyone, and we don’t want to assume that it will be for your family.
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