huntington's disease: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Specialist/Medical)Formal, Medical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “huntington's disease” mean?
A rare, inherited, degenerative neurological disorder causing uncontrolled movements, emotional problems, and loss of thinking ability.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A rare, inherited, degenerative neurological disorder causing uncontrolled movements, emotional problems, and loss of thinking ability.
A fatal genetic condition characterized by the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain, with symptoms typically appearing in mid-adulthood. It is caused by an inherited mutation in the HTT gene.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling of the possessive ('Huntington's') is consistent.
Connotations
Identical medical and clinical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency outside medical contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “huntington's disease” in a Sentence
Patient + has/develops + Huntington's diseaseHuntington's disease + affects + person/organTo be + diagnosed with + Huntington's diseaseGene + causes + Huntington's diseaseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “huntington's disease” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The gene variants can predispose someone to developing the condition.
- The disease manifests in a variety of neurological symptoms.
American English
- Researchers are working to find a way to correct the gene that causes Huntington's.
- The condition typically presents in middle age.
adverb
British English
- The disease progresses neurologically and cognitively.
- Genetically, the inheritance pattern is autosomal dominant.
American English
- The condition is progressively debilitating.
- The mutation is predictably passed on to children.
adjective
British English
- She is involved in Huntington's disease research at the university.
- The Huntington's disease clinic offers specialist support.
American English
- He is a leading expert in Huntington's disease genetics.
- They attended a Huntington's disease support group meeting.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts like pharmaceutical research, biotech investment, or insurance underwriting.
Academic
Common in medical, genetic, neurological, and bioethics literature and research papers.
Everyday
Used when discussing family health history, rare conditions, or in support group contexts.
Technical
The standard term in clinical neurology, genetics, and psychiatry for this specific condition.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “huntington's disease”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “huntington's disease”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “huntington's disease”
- Misspelling as 'Huntingtons' (without apostrophe) or 'Huntington' disease (apostrophe in wrong place).
- Confusing it with other neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'a Huntington's disease' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they refer to the same condition. 'Chorea' is a clinical term for the irregular, jerky movements that are a hallmark symptom.
It is extremely rare. Huntington's is an autosomal dominant disorder, meaning you only need one copy of the faulty gene from a parent. A new mutation is very uncommon.
Symptoms typically begin between the ages of 30 and 50, though there are juvenile-onset and late-onset forms.
There is no cure. Current treatments focus on managing symptoms (movements, psychiatric issues) and providing supportive care to improve quality of life.
A rare, inherited, degenerative neurological disorder causing uncontrolled movements, emotional problems, and loss of thinking ability.
Huntington's disease is usually formal, medical, academic in register.
Huntington's disease: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhʌntɪŋtənz dɪˌziːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhʌntɪŋtənz dɪˌziz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HUNTington's: the gene HUNTs down and destroys brain cells, leading to the disease.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PREDATOR IN THE GENES (it lies in wait, is inherited, and progressively attacks the brain).
Practice
Quiz
Huntington's disease is primarily: