Therefore, drug therapy is usually limited to people who have severe symptoms. The two main ways used to help reduce the effects of the disorder are for the person with Huntington's to keep active and physically fit through exercise, and the use of supportive care. Supportive care means using aids and services such as psychotherapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, communicative and memory aids, social support services, and dietary advice. Although cracking the genetic code for the disorder has not yet led to a cure, discovery of the Huntington's gene has allowed scientists to create strains of mice that carry the gene. Although the mice don't develop exactly the same symptoms as human beings do, the result is close enough that scientists can try out treatments and gene therapies.
Scientists can also test possible drugs for ones that slow the damage the disorder causes.
As a result of this research, two drugs are now being tested in human Huntington's patients. Other researchers are investigating the role of free radicals and antioxidants in the disorder, as well as what other genes might influence the Huntington's gene. Links to sites offering information and resources on the disorder The information for this article was taken from the following sources. Adis International Limited. Drug therapy limited in patients with Huntington's disease.