Huntington's disease is “a devastating, hereditary, degenerative brain disease for which there is currently no cure... HD slowly diminishes the affected individual's ability to to walk, talk and reason. Eventually, the person with HD becomes totally dependent on others for their care” (What is Huntington's Disease). “Gene penetrance [is] close to 100% in old age but is low during the reproductive years” (Prediction and Prevention). This disease causes problems with mobility and cognitive abilities, as well as some psychiatric disorders. The first expressed symptoms can be cognitive, motor or psychiatric. Many of those affected will have short-term memory problems. He will often have balance problems and an unsteady walk. Falls will become more common. They may also experience chorea or involuntary movements, as well as dystonia or prolonged muscle contractions. Some will have difficulty swallowing. The mental health of people with Huntington's disease is also a concern. Many will suffer from depression, obsessive compulsive disorder or bipolar disorder. Some may even experience violent outbursts. The age of onset of Huntington's disease is usually between 30 and 50 years; however, juvenile or later onset forms are possible. “Individuals with this form of Huntington's disease generally survive approximately 15 to 25 years after onset” (Huntington's Disease Statistics). Juvenile forms rarely reach adulthood. Most people die not from the disease itself, but from additional medical problems such as pneumonia and other infections, injuries from falls, and complications from an inability to swallow. As the disease persists, the person will become increasingly dependent on other people for daily care and may become unable to leave their… middle of paper… rizi. “C9orf72 expansions are the most common genetic cause of Huntington's disease phenocopies.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. US National Library of Medicine, December 20, 2013. Web. April 27, 2014. Mayo Clinic Staff. "Huntington's disease." Treatments and medications. Mayo Clinic, May 5, 2011. Web. April 27, 2014. Myers, Richard H. “Genetics of Huntington's Disease.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. US National Library of Medicine, September 23, 2005. Web. April 27, 2014. O'Rourke, Justin. “Lower Iowa Online.” Iowa Online Search. University of Iowa, 2011. Web. April 27, 2014. Schoenstadt, Arthur, MD. "Huntington's Disease Statistics." EMedTV: health information comes to life. Np, Oct. 27, 2013. Web. Apr. 27, 2014. “What is Huntington's Disease.” American Huntington's Disease Society. American Huntington's Disease Society, 2013. Web. 26 April. 2014.