How is Huntingtons disease diagnosed?
The great American folk singer and composer Woody Guthrie died on October 3, 1967, after suffering from Huntington’s disease for 13 years. He had been misdiagnosed, considered an alcoholic, and shuttled in and out of mental institutions and hospitals for years before being properly diagnosed. His case, sadly, is not extraordinary, although the diagnosis can be made easily by experienced neurologists. A neurologist will interview the individual intensively to obtain the medical history and rule out other conditions. A tool used by physicians to diagnose Huntington’s disease is to take the family history, sometimes called a pedigree or genealogy. It is extremely important for family members to be candid and truthful with a doctor who is taking a family history. The doctor will also ask about recent intellectual or emotional problems, which may be indications of Huntington’s disease, and will test the person’s hearing, eye movements, strength, coordination, involuntary movements (chorea),
