Two signaling enzymes, GSK3-beta and ERK1, play opposing roles in the development of Huntington’s disease and may represent new therapeutic targets, a study showed. “We propose that ERK1 may protect neurons in the face of Huntington’s disease, while [GSK3-beta] may exacerbate Huntington’s disease,” Shermali Gunawardena, PhD, the study’s senior…
My wife, Jill, recently had an “aha!” moment about some of the neurological symptoms her late father experienced during his battle with Huntington’s disease. While folding some laundry, she picked up a large sheet that had been sitting in a chilly part of our home. The…
Some days, living with Huntington’s disease feels like trying to catch a butterfly in a storm. The winds of chorea, fatigue, mood swings, and forgetfulness push against the delicate wings of joy. Yet through it all, I’ve learned to reach for joy anyway. To find purpose in the present…
Erin Paterson holds copies of her books. (Photo courtesy of Erin Paterson) This is Erin Paterson’s story: I attended a conference for families impacted by Huntington’s disease (HD) — a spectacular event with expert panels and motivational speeches. But it’s the hugs and the feeling of being loved…
One year of treatment with PTC518 safely lowered blood levels of huntingtin, the protein that’s faulty in Huntington’s disease, in a dose-dependent manner in people with early- and late-intermediate stages of the neurodegenerative condition. That’s according to new data from the Phase 2 PIVOT-HD clinical trial (NCT05358717), which…
Stu Hopper, left, and Carlos Contreas take a photo in Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, on a cruise stop by the Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas. (Photos courtesy of Stu Hopper) This is Stu Hopper’s story: Carlos Contreas and I, Stu Hopper, met…
My wife, Jill, is generally an optimist. But lately, I’ve seen frustration cloud her eyes. It’s not just the daily battles we fight together against Huntington’s disease (HD). Those are struggles we’ve learned to face, one day at a time. This frustration is tied to something bigger: the Huntington’s…
Living with Huntington’s disease has taught me that self-care is not a luxury, but a commitment, an act of self-preservation, and a form of self-respect. Before my diagnosis, I had a very different idea of what self-care meant. I thought it was about escaping life’s stressors with…
Kerry Agee smiles with her husband, Cody Agee. (Photos courtesy of Kerry Agee) This is Kerry Agee’s story: Hello! It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Kerry, 44, wife of a Gen-Xer, mother to a teen, and lover of dance, travel, “Lord of the Rings,” and Hello Kitty, as…
The emphasis of this year’s Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month, celebrated each May, is on the patient journey. Also, International Huntington’s Disease Awareness Day is May 15. Huntington’s disease, sometimes known as HD, is a progressive neurodegenerative condition believed to impact 4.9 per 100,000 people globally, including some…
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