Scottish Huntington's Association

The Scottish Huntington's Association is the only charity in Scotland supporting families impacted by the degenerative neurological condition Huntington's disease (HD). It does this through a team of HD specialists, their world leading youth support and a financial wellbeing service. HD is a complex neurological condition with symptoms that typically begin to develop between the ages of 30 and 50. It causes three main groups of symptoms: changes to thinking processes - a type of early onset dementia, loss of muscle control and involuntary movements which lead to loss of speech and swallow along with mental illness. Those impacted by HD may eventually lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink, make decisions or care for themselves requiring 24 hour care. It is also hereditary with each child of those diagnosed at 50% risk developing the disease. There is no cure. It is estimated there are around 1100 people living with HD in Scotland and between 4-6000 potentially at risk.