What is the Difference Between Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Disease?

Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease are both neurodegenerative conditions that affect the central nervous system and lead to symptoms such as tremors, limb stiffness, difficulty walking or talking, and problems with thinking. However, there are differences between the two diseases:

Cause: Huntington's disease is caused by a genetic mutation that a person usually inherits from their parents. In contrast, Parkinson's disease is believed to be caused by a combination of factors, including genetics, environmental factors, and aging.
Motor Symptoms: People with Parkinson's disease may experience rigidity and slowed movements. In contrast, people with Huntington's disease may experience cognitive and psychological symptoms.

Both diseases involve the brain structure known as the basal ganglia and can affect a person's movement, mental health, and cognitive ability. Although neither disease is curable, medications and other treatment options help some people manage their symptoms. Diagnosing Parkinson's or Huntington's disease can be challenging and may require more than one test, such as a physical exam, questions about symptoms and medical history, and neurological or psychiatric evaluations.

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What is the Difference Between Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Disease?

Comparative Table: Parkinson’s vs Huntington’s Disease

Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases are both neurodegenerative disorders that affect the central nervous system and share some similarities in motor symptoms. However, there are key differences between the two conditions. Here is a table comparing the main differences between Parkinson's and Huntington's disease:

Feature	Parkinson's Disease	Huntington's Disease
Cause	Degeneration of neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain, caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and aging factors	Genetic mutation in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, inherited from a parent
Motor Symptoms	Tremors, rigidity, slowed movements, and gait disturbances	Choreiform movements (repetitive and rapid, jerky, involuntary movements), emotional problems, and cognitive decline
Onset	Generally occurs in old age	Symptoms usually appear in a person's 30s or 40s, but can also occur earlier (juvenile form) or later in life
Inheritance	Estimated 30% of cases are genetic, but not everyone with the genetic mutation will develop the disease	A parent with Huntington's has a 50% chance of passing the HTT gene on to their child; a person who inherits the HTT gene will surely develop Huntington's symptoms at some point
Treatment	Medications and therapies can help manage symptoms, but there is currently no cure	Medications can help control chorea, but other symptoms are difficult to control

While both diseases cause involuntary movements, the specific motor symptoms and their severity differ between Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. Additionally, Parkinson's disease is generally idiopathic (cause unknown), while Huntington's disease is caused by a known genetic mutation.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.