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| How Huntington's Disease can be passed down |
Huntington's disease is hereditary, passed from parent to child through a defective gene. A child has a 50% chance of inheriting the mutant gene from his or her parents. If inherited, the person is surely to manifest HD sooner or later. Otherwise, the child is safe and will not be able to pass down the disease to his/her own children.
People with HD manifest symptoms when they hit middle age. These include uncontrolled movements, loss of equilibrium, and clumsiness. As the disease progresses, the affected patient would have difficulty (or even unable) in talking, walking, or swallowing. Cognitive skills such as recognition are also affected.
There is no known cure for the disease.
What is Coenzyme Q10?
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ or CoQ10) is a natural compound found in the body that helps convert food into energy. It is found in almost every cell (primarily in the mitochondria) in the body and is a powerful antioxidant.
Primary dietary sources of CoQ10 include oily fish (such as salmon and tuna), organ meats (such as liver), and whole grains. Most people get enough CoQ10 through a balanced diet.
It is an important compound used by cells to generate energy. 95% of the human body's energy is generated with the help of CoQ. Organs with the highest energy requirements such as the heart, liver, and kidney have the highest CoQ10 concentrations.
Study indicates promise in Huntington's treatment
A new study shows that the compound Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) reduces oxidative damage, a key finding that hints at its potential to slow the progression of Huntington disease. The discovery, which appears in the inaugural issue of the Journal of Huntington's Disease, also points to a new biomarker that could be used to screen experimental treatments for this and other neurological disorders.
"This study supports the hypothesis that CoQ exerts antioxidant effects in patients with Huntington's disease and therefore is a treatment that warrants further study," says University of Rochester Medical Center neurologist Kevin M. Biglan, M.D., M.P.H., lead author of the study. "As importantly, it has provided us with a new method to evaluate the efficacy of potential new treatments."
