50/50 The Dilemma of Genetic Counselling in Huntingtons Disease

Huntington's Disease is a hereditary disease which is passed from generation to generation through auto-somal dominant tranmission. The transmission is unrelated to the sex of the child and each child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease or not inheriting the disease. This disease never skips a generation but for those who do not inherit the offending gene (S), then the disease can no longer be transmitted to future generations. The disease usually manifests itself in the late 30's and early 40's years of age, that is, towards the end of the reproductive life of the patient. The average length of time from onset to death is about 15 years and death is usually due to pneumonia or heart disease in a debilitated person.