Huntington's Disease

Curse of mutation
On just one gene
Needing salvation
Get it clean

First comes the emotion
Then come the shakes
They get these notions
Everyone thinks they're flakes

Some are highly intelligent
But the wiring is disordered

(I am stilling working on this one.  Anyone have any suggestions? Sara This disease is in 
clusters in families affects approximately 1in 10,000 people similiar to a cross in Parkinson 
and Alzheimers with dementia similiar to schizorphrenia. There is no medicine, no treatment, 
and one just has to wait until the symptoms start.  There is genetic testing now which can tell 
if one has the gene and if the repeats are high enough that the person will come down with 
the disease themselves.  People who have this disease are more prone to using illegal drugs, 
too much alcohol, get trouble with the law because of these, and are prone to having multiple 
sexual partners because they are seeking something to treat themselves for the depression 
that comes with the illness. There is hope in stem cell research to come up with a treatment 
for this illnes and other similiar illnesses.  This illness is an mutation on the CAG in ones 
genetic coding with too many CAG and it effects the glutamine protein  which is in every cell 
in ones body.  The illness wrecks havoc on ones brain causing brain cells to die too soon and 
the body can't keep up with disposing of the cells or make new ones fast enough to replace 
the dead ones. When a person finds out it is in their family, then they live with the fear will it 
be my fate.)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

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Fraser Avatar
July 13, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Sara, well scripted the information you have posted here, at times we do not really know how lucky we are, excellent write>>James
King Avatar
July 13, 2009 at 4:54 AM
This info. helps us to understand the disease much better. The expression 'Sword of Damocles' came to mind, it hangs over all the family. Glad you liked my aardvark! I agree, the bane of old age is having to learn the same dam thing over and over again - if only I could remember where I put my marbles ...
Freeman Avatar
July 11, 2009 at 8:44 AM
Your Love gene is behind you just give it it's head and everything will be fine, Love Moses
King Avatar
July 11, 2009 at 5:25 AM
If you can bear to, you could include the premature aging, and the heredity factor ... but it stands very well as a 2-verse poem. If you're finding this painful, let it go. It will return in its own time. Kindest regards, Frances
Fraser Avatar
July 11, 2009 at 4:31 AM
Sara, i think you have carried this poem well, my suggestion for a line or two is >> Another disease in lifes system, Unfortunate intrude. Just a thought, Soup Mail>>James
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