HDSA of Washington State

Description

Huntington’s disease (also called HD) is a fatal genetic brain disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells. It deteriorates a person’s physical and mental abilities usually during their prime working years (30 to 50 years) and unfortunately there is no cure. HD is a family disease because every child of a parent with HD has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the faulty gene.

Through four HDSA regions with 54 volunteer-based chapters and affiliates, 200+ support groups, we reach out across the nation to offer HD patients and their family’s guidance, encouragement, resource information and leadership opportunities. There are HDSA events, meetings, and seminars, as well as HDSA advocacy programs -- truly a place to care, share while we all work toward a cure.

Today, there are approximately 41,000 symptomatic Americans and more than 200,000 at-risk of inheriting the disease. Fifty HDSA Centers of Excellence at locations in major hospitals and university medical centers are supported by HDSA across the continental United States. The national office also produces and distributes, free of charge, publications and informational materials on HD and maintains a toll-free information hotline to assist physicians, patients and family members.