Huntington's disease part 1: what is it?

This is the first in a two-part series on Huntington's disease (HD). Part one describes what the neurological disease is and how it affects sufferers. HD is a progressive genetic neurological disease which affects approximately 6.2 in 100000 adults within the UK (Orphanet, 2008). HD is a hereditary disorder of the central nervous system. It used to be known as Huntington's chorea. Huntington's disease usually develops in adulthood and can cause a very wide range of symptoms (Huntingdon's Disease Association, 2008).