It seems that people at risk of HD might be able to delay the onset of symptoms by being fit and active. It's also best to avoid heavy alcohol intake and all illegal drugs as these are not good for your brain cells. I hope this helps. Sorry for the late reply. How old do you have to be to get tested for HD? - Lacey (16) Hi Lacey, In Australia, genetic counsellors will generally follow the international ethical guidelines which suggest that a person should be 18 years of age before being tested for HD. There is a great deal of debate around this issue where some people believe that knowing too early can have detrimental effects to a person's psychological development and give rise to issues related to discrimination and insurance. However, other people argue that young people have a right to know their gene status and that the negative impact of being tested early is overstated. So it's not completely black and white. If you are thinking about testing the best thing to do would be to contact your local HD association so they can put you in touch with the genetic counsellors who assist people through the testing process. I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any other questions. My mother past last year with HD so I know how hard it is to have the disease. Are there any clubs or groups I can get associated with to help support those with HD more?