What is currently being done to fight Huntington Disease? Huntington Society of Canada Peace Country Chapter President Mack Erno says an upcoming Community Education Forum in Clairmont aims to help people with the disease and their family members better understand what treatments are in place.
“We’ll be watching presentations and talking about developments in research, what’s happening in the here and now. [We’re] also looking at clinical trials that we expect will be coming in the near future for the treatment of this disease.”
Huntington is a hereditary disease meaning it can be passed from generation to generation. It affects the brain causing parts of it to break down, which can lead to physical, emotional and cognitive issues including dementia. Approximately one in 7,000 people in Canada have HD. Currently, there is no cure for disease but it can be managed with medication.
The event will feature speakers, including Dr. Michael Hayden, who will talk about which clinical trials are currently underway, how they work and what to expect. Dr. Ed Wild will share information on drug trials and the research into the cause of HD that is currently being done.
Erno says this event is great for everyone to attend whether they know a lot about the disease or not. People can ask questions and be put in touch with people who are going through the same thing.
“There’s a lot of families out there that are not very connected to the Huntington world that might have a family connection so it’s a great way to come out and meet some people in our area that are definitely knowledgeable and can offer help.”
The free event is open to the public and will be held on May 2nd at the Redwood Inn and Suites in Clairmont. It will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.