Carilion Establishes New Huntington's Disease Program
The team aims to support HD patients and caregivers through care, education and research opportunities
As a collaboration between the Department of Neurology and the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine, clinicians recently established Carilion's first Huntington's Disease (HD) Program. The interdisciplinary team aims to provide care and raise awareness about the disease, starting with a study about patients' quality of life.
The disease is a genetic, progressive, neurodegenerative illness. It affects the brain and gets worse over time, and it's passed down from one generation to another. There are three types of symptoms: behavioral changes, cognitive decline, and involuntary movements. Currently, there is no cure. There are ways, however, to treat the symptoms.
The HD Program is recruiting patients to participate in a one-time online survey to learn more about their experience with the disease, quality of life, and perceived stigma. Individuals who are interested or want to learn more can visit CarilionClinic.org/huntingtons-disease.