VIDEO: Importance of predictive genetic testing in people at risk for Huntington’s disease

Editor’s note: This is an automatically generated transcript, which has been slightly edited for clarity. Please notify editor@healio.com if there are concerns regarding accuracy of the transcription.

Huntington’s disease is inherited in an autosomal-dominant fashion. Therefore, each child of an affected individual has a 50% chance of inheriting HD. Predictive testing, predictive genetic testing is available for individuals that are at risk so that they can determine whether or not they're going to live with HD. Ideally, predictive testing should be done with genetic counselors and/or clinicians that are familiar with HD and that can occur virtually or in person, but we really strongly encourage that prior to predictive testing that individuals undergo genetic counseling and they’re aware of kind of the risks associated with pursuing predictive genetic testing. And while we don’t have an approved disease-modifying therapy in HD, and we’re certainly optimistic about the research under way, there’s some retrospective data that, not only in HD, but extrapolating from other neurodegenerative diseases that supports really a healthy diet and lifestyles, that supports the efficacy of exercise, suggesting that maybe even exercise, aerobic activity that is, is to some degree neuromodulatory. And there’s, again, some retrospective data supporting a healthy diet, mostly a Mediterranean-like diet, and trying to avoid tobacco use, excessive alcohol use and illicit substances.