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Spring Survey 2012

New Medicine and Promising Research for Huntington’s Disease

Recorded on 4/30/2009
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  • Colorado Neurological Institute

PROGRAM DETAILS:

In the Fall of 2008, the first medicine specifically for a common symptom of Huntington’s Disease (HD) was approved by the FDA. With this approval, patients and their doctors now have a new tool to help treat the condition and the hope of many new tools based on promising research about the underlying disease. In this special episode of Patient Power, Dr. Rajeev Kumar joins Andrew from the 61st annual American Academy of Neurology meeting in Seattle in 2009, to share his view of a new day in the fight against this serious genetic condition. Dr. Kumar is the medical director at a Huntington’s Disease Center of Excellence outside Denver, Colorado.

Many people who are at risk for Huntington’s disease are often unaware if they have the gene’s serious mutation, but there are advantages to knowing your gene status early. Dr. Kumar begins by explaining the genetic mutation and how the disease manifests, which can interfere with the activities of daily living and over time, markedly shorten the lifespan. Dr. Kumar goes on to address the symptoms and the varied age of onset that can correlate with the progression of the disease.

Fortunately, there is hope on the horizon. With genetic testing and new FDA-approved medications, progress is being made to treat the symptoms of the disease and improve overall quality of life. These breakthrough medications are leading the way and increasing hope that there will soon be a therapy to slow the progression of the disease. Dr. Kumar expresses his hope for the future of HD: “I’m extremely encouraged. I would say five years ago we had no drug therapies that were approved, and we had no significant drug therapies that had a great deal of promise…I anticipate based on the basic science that we will have several other new medications for both symptom management as well as for disease modification being studied in the next year.”

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EXPERTS & GUESTS:
Rajeev Kumar, M.D.
Neurologist & Medical Director, Colorado Neurological Institute
Rajeev Kumar, M.D. is a neurologist specializing in movement disorders and medical director of the Colorado Neurological Institute. He is acrive in the research and treatment of Huntington’s Disease and leads the Huntington’s Disease Center of Excellence for his region. more >

TRANSCRIPT:

  1. Introduction
  2. New Treatment Options for Huntington’s Disease
  3. New Studies and Clinical Trials
  4. Advantages of Knowing Your Gene Status Early
  5. Closing Comments

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