A human being’s body faces several changes in its entire existence, and it undergoes various transformations. These transformations may either be physical or mental.
Considering the brain alone, a human brain at a certain human age group undergoes changes that lead to various changes. Two of these diseases are 1. Huntington’s disease, and 2. Parkinson’s disease.
Huntingtons vs Parkinsons
The difference between Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease is the composition of the genes. Huntington’s disease can be inherited from parents to offspring’s, and it is caused to an offspring due to an abnormal gene present in their body. On the other hand, Parkinson’s disease occurs in the human body when the production of dopamine from the nerve cells is not enough.
The nerve cells present in the human brain gradually breaks down and affects the person physically and mentally. It also affects a person’s emotional capabilities.
There are several symptoms and cures to this disease. Appropriate treatment at the correct timing must be taken.
Comparison Table
Parameters of Comparison | Huntingtons | Parkinsons |
---|---|---|
Meaning | The genetic disorder or disease that is inherited from a parent to an offspring due to the presence of an abnormal gene in the offspring’s body is known as Huntington’s disease. | The disease that occurs to a person due to the less production of dopamine from the nerve cells from the brain due to either genetic composition or environmental impacts is known as Parkinson’s disease. |
Type | Genetic disorder | Non-Genetic disorder |
Causes | Presence of abnormal Genes. | Lack in production of dopamine from nerve cells. |
Symptoms | Change in moods, triggering in mood swings, lack of coordination, slow understanding towards things, indecisive behaviour etc. | Loss of smell, Difficulty in digestion, change in voice, poor And minuscule handwriting, change in posture, movements become slow, clumsiness etc. |
Treatment | No permanent cure is available but a patient can try several ways prescribed by the doctors to cope with the disease. | Various treatments are available. |
What is Huntingtons?
The genetic disorder or disease that is inherited from a parent to an offspring due to the presence of an abnormal gene in the offspring’s body is known as the Huntington’s disease.
In Huntington’s disease, the nerve cells that are present in the human brain gradually breaks down and affects the person physically and mentally. It also affects a person’s emotional capabilities.
The adult-onset is a common variant of the disease. On the other hand, the early onset is the less common variant of the disease.
The disease is a progressive one and cannot be stopped as there is no cure for it. However, a person can follow therapy or medications to come with it.
What is Parkinsons?
The disease that occurs to a person due to the less production of dopamine from the nerve cells from the brain due to either genetic composition or environmental impacts is known as the Parkinson’s disease.
Appropriate treatment at the correct timing must be taken. People are affected physically as well as mentally and emotionally when they are diagnosed with this disease.
The symptoms of this disease include anosmia, or the lack of smell, difficulty in digestion, which eventually leads to constipation, changes are noticed in the voice, changes in the posture, slowing down of the movements, arms and legs are stiffened, body balancing issues are seen, anxious behaviour and hallucinations etc.
There are various treatments and cures for this disease like introducing changes in lifestyle, medications from doctors, therapies etc.
Main Differences Between Huntingtons and Parkinsons
- Huntington’s disease can not be cured. On the other hand, Parkinson’s disease can be cured.
- Huntington’s disease can not be prevented as it is a genetic disorder. On the other hand, Parkinson’s disease can be prevented.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673607601111
- https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199810153391607
My name is Piyush Yadav, and I am a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. You can read more about me on my bio page.