Thanks for book review

Huntington’s disease is a brain disorder that leads to death

Re: The ethics of genetics; Book tackles issues family faces with Huntington’s disease diagnosis, April 18

I would like to thank Tracy Sherlock for her recent review of Lisa Genova’s novel, Inside the O’Briens, which describes the challenges of a 44-year-old police officer, husband and father diagnosed with Huntington’s disease (HD). HD is a debilitating brain disorder that is fatal and does not have a cure. One in every 7,000 Canadians has HD, and many more are touched by HD as a family member or friend.

The Huntington Society of Canada is the only national health charity dedicated to supporting those affected by Huntington’s disease in Vancouver and across Canada. For over 40 years, the society has worked to fund research to find a meaningful treatment for HD and maximize the quality of life of families affected by HD. Every province has a dedicated resource centre director to serve families affected by HD and Vancouver is no exception. The British Columbia HD resource centre director services families affected by HD in Vancouver and across British Columbia.

Huntington’s disease is like having the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and schizophrenia all in one disease. Symptoms usually begin between the ages of 30 and 50 and often include uncontrollable jerking movements and cognitive impairment. They gradually worsen over the 10- to 25-year course of the disease, eventually leading to death. Children of a parent with HD have a 50 per cent chance of inheriting the disease. To learn more about Huntington’s disease or the British Columbia resource centre, call us at 604-696-1399, or email us at info@huntingtonsociety.ca.