Dear Dr.

MadJack Jackson,

I am starting to understand what you meant when you said that I have Huntingtons
disease, it definitely explains why I have been having weird jerking movements that I can't
control and I have slowly noticed my movement ability decrease over the past few months.
Since we last talked I also noticed that I am having a difficult time speaking and I am having
trouble maintaining balance (2). Also, I am noticing that I am very moody lately, I think that
there might be a connection between my disease and emotions. I was surprised to learn that only
4 to seven out of every 100,000 people have the disease, I am one unlucky guy(4). I was even in
the ten percent that have onset symptoms was in my late childhood, most people show symptoms
in between 30 and 50 (6). What are the chances?! While learning some more about
Huntingtons, I came to learn that it is caused by a gene called huntingtin, and what I found very
intriguing is the fact that its function is unknown. The nucleotide codes within the gene create
the huntingtin proteins, and I learned that when they are being built the huntingtin gene the add
some extra building blocks which create an extra section in the protein. In other words the gene
creates an oversized version of the huntingtin protein. At the moment, scientists think that extra
part is meant for interacting with other proteins and that interaction within the brain cells can
lead to cell death. Huntingtons disease is dominant gene and male and females can get it. It can
also be passed on from either parent with a 50/50 chance to be passed on(1). I am very sad that I
will not have the chance of having kids because there is no way in hell that I would chance
putting one of my kids through this. Especially because I would most likely be dead before they
moved out, due to the fact that Huntingtons is 100% fatal and there is no cure, no effective
treatment, and no chance of surviving(5 and 3). I have roughly fifteen to twenty years before I
pass on. Although, for seven or eight years I can still work and live life somewhat normally

before the disease gets bad enough that I cant do everyday activities (6). There is no cure or
way to slow down the progression, but I can get treatment to ease the suffering (6). The National
Institute of Health and other agencies started sponsoring clinics to help find a cure for the
disease. Due to the fact that the gene for Huntingtons Disease has been isolated, neurologists
have started basic neurobiology in that area. Experimenting with animals has also begun,
scientists are trying to replicate HD or something similar to it in animals so that they can learn
more about it (7 and 6). I have at worst ten years, I hope that we can discover a cure to help me
and everyone else sharing this disease. Meanwhile I will continue to help out however I can.

Sincerely your patient,

Nathan Parker

Works Cited
Gulli, Laith, and Monique Laberge. "Huntington's Disease." The Gale Encyclopedia of
Medicine. Ed. Laurie J. Fundukian. 4th ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, 2011. 2173-2176. Gale
Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

Gulli, Laith. "Huntington Disease." The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders. Ed. Brigham
Narins. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 646-649. Gale Virtual Reference Library.
Web. 13 Mar. 2016.
"Huntington's Disease: Hope Through Research." Huntington's Disease: Hope Through
Research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, n.d. Web. 13 Mar.
2016.