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FACTORS AFFECTING THE AGE AT ONSE OF HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE
Author(s) -
Brackenridge C. J.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1980.tb134824.x
Subject(s) - disease , offspring , age of onset , huntington's disease , psychology , medicine , developmental psychology , genetics , biology , pathology , pregnancy
Much research has been devoted to predicting whether the child of a parent affected with Huntington's disease has inherited the gene or genes responsible. The benefit and propriety of this type of study has been questioned on the ground that nothing tangible is yet available to those believed to be so destined. This review of current knowledge concerns a different approach to combating the disorder by delaying its onset and requires an understanding of factors determining the age at which the disorder appears. Among familial factors, the sex, age at onset, and predominant neurological sign of the transmitting parent exert an influence on the time when symptoms arise in offspring. Young Australian patients tend to ensue from births which occur closely before, and especially after, the time of parental onset of the disease. Elucidation of predisposing environmental influences has been slower than that of clinical and genetic factors. Geographical data suggest that climatic extremes may precipitate the appearance of symptoms. Physical occupational stress is another putative factor; sedentary and exhausting jobs are associated with earlier ages at onset than moderately demanding ones. It is to be hoped that such studies will lead to ways of delaying the onset of the disorder without the distressing concomitants likely to be involved in predictive tests.