On Friday I attended the funeral for Nilesh Patel, a young man who’s life was taken by Huntington’s Disease.
Huntington’s Disease is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that causes involuntary movements, cognitive and psychiatric problems. The disease is caused by a genetic mutation in which an individual has two copies of a specific gene. When the disease occurs in young people, as it did to Nilesh, it progresses rapidly and very harmfully.
This is a horrible disease in that it not only causes physical suffering, but also psychological issues. A very high percentage of people with Huntington’s Disease report being irritable, apathetic, anxious, depressed, oppressive compulsive and even in some cases psychotic.
There is no cure for Huntington’s Disease but there are some treatments for reducing the severity of symptoms.
I am going to be walking in the Huntington Disease Society of America’s LA chapter walk next weekend and would greatly appreciate any donations made to Nilesh’s page here.