Living at risk of Huntington’s disease

Huntington’s disease is a rare genetic neurological disorder that can impact everything from a person’s ability to move to their memory and can cause psychiatric disorders, like depression. 

For many, it’s fatal, and there’s a 50% chance that the biological child of a parent with Huntington’s will inherit the disease. Yet, there is still hope. Vanderbilt University Medical Center is home to one of the nation’s leading clinics for Huntington’s disease.

It this hour, we’ll hear from Tennesseans with Huntington’s, their families and doctors to understand what it means to live with the disease and how they made tough decisions when it comes to getting tested and having children.

But up first, WNXP Editorial Director Jewly Hight talks artist of the month — and Julia Gomez’s record of the week.

Guests

• Jewly Hight, WNXP editorial director
• Eva Angelina Romero, Huntington’s Disease Society of America – Tennessee chapter president 
• Chris Brown, lives with Huntington’s and is an advocate for peer support and research
• Amy Abbott, wife of musician Jody Abbott
• Dr. Daniel Claassen, neurologist and director of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s interdisciplinary Huntington’s Disease and Chorea Clinic

Additional reading:

• ABC 24 Memphis: Memphis musician Jody Abbot, former Fuel & Breaking Point drummer, dies after battle with Huntington’s Disease