Huntington’s chorea is a very rare degenerative nerve disease that starts in early middle age. Uncontrollable body movements, called chorea, gradually develop and are followed by mental deterioration. Sometimes mental deterioration occurs first. No treatment has yet been discovered to halt the progress of the disease or control its symptoms. The word “chorea” literally means “dance.” The term is a rough description of the swift, jerky movements that occur in people who have this disease.

Huntington’s chorea is an inherited disorder that seldom produces symptoms before marriage and childbearing. Therefore, a person with this disease may not know it until after having a child. If you know of anyone in any branch of your family who has had the disease, consult your physician about possible risks for yourself and your children.