for HD Chorea in Adults

What is the impact
of HD chorea?

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurological disorder that affects nerve cells in the brain. For people with HD, an abnormal increase in the release of dopamine (the brain chemical responsible for movement) can cause chorea.1,2

Chorea can affect daily life for people with HD as well as their care partners.
Care partners reported chorea as the most impactful symptom of HD.3

Chorea is one of the most visible
symptoms of HD and can be treated1,4

Find out how

What HD chorea
signs look like5,6:

  • Flicking the fingers
  • Flailing arms or legs
  • Shrugging shoulders
  • Grimacing
  • Twisting or jerking
  • Irregular eye movements or blinking

These movements can be mild
to severe and may worsen
with stress. Over time, these movements cause a loss of independence.6,7

These movements can be mild to severe and may worsen with stress. Over time, these movements cause a loss of independence.6,7

How HD chorea can
impact daily life6,7:

  • Make walking and
    climbing stairs difficult

  • Affect your ability to
    brush teeth or bathe

  • Make getting dressed
    challenging

  • Affect your ability to eat or chew

  • Make it difficult to
    speak clearly

Nobody wants to be diagnosed with HD. But once it becomes part
of someone’s journey, the sooner you start to prepare, the better.

— HD care partner

Get the conversation going

Reduce the movements of HD chorea and their impact on your
day-to-day living. Use the Appointment Preparation Guide to help
start the conversation.

Get the guide

References:

1. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Huntington’s Disease: Hope Through Research. National Institutes of Health; 2020. NIH publication 20-NS-19. Accessed January 24, 2024. https://calalog-ninds.nih.gov/sites/detault/fles/publications/huntington%E2%80%99s-disease-hope-through-research_0.pdt

2. Antidopaminergic agents. Huntington’s Disease News. Accessed January 24, 2024. https://huntingtonsdiseasenews.com/antidopaminergic-agents/

3. Simpson JA, Lovecky D, Kogan J, Vetter LA, Yohrling GJ. Survey of the Huntington’s disease patient and caregiver community reveals most impactful symptoms and treatment needs. J Huntingtons Dis. 2016;5(4):395-403.

4. AUSTEDO® XR (deutetrabenazine) extended-release tablets/AUSTEDO® tablets current Prescribing Information. Parsippany, NJ: Teva Neuroscience, Inc.

5. Tarapata K, Murray CF. A Caregiver's Guide to Huntington's Disease. Huntington's Disease Society of America; 2011. Accessed January 24, 2024. https://hdsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/A-Caregivers-Guide-to-HD.pdf

6. Burgess JC, Davis B, Fogarty E, et al. Caregiver Guide for Mid to Late Stage Huntington's Disease: For Long-Term Care Facilities and In-Home Care Agencies. Huntington's Disease Society of America; 2014. Accessed January 24, 2024. http://hdsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/CaregiverGuide_Mid_Late_StageHD.pdf

7. Caron NS, Wright GEB, Hayden MR. Huntington disease. In: Acam MP, Feldman J. Mirzaa GM. et al, eds. GeneReviews. University of Washington, Seattle, 1993-2024. Updated June 11, 2020. Accessed January 25, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK130S/