Causes

Huntington’s disease is caused by a genetic mutation in the huntingtin gene. This mutation leads to the production of an abnormal form of the huntingtin protein, which accumulates in the brain and causes damage to nerve cells. The mutated gene is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means that a person only needs to inherit one copy of the mutated gene from one parent to develop the disease. 

If a parent has the mutated huntingtin gene, each child has a 50% chance of inheriting the gene and eventually developing Huntington’s disease. However, the severity and age of onset of the disease can vary among individuals, even within the same family.