This series features essays by Dr. Kenneth Serbin, Professor of History, originally posted on his blog, At Risk for Huntington's Disease."
Huntington's Disease (HD) is a genetically caused brain disorder that causes uncontrollable bodily movements and robs people's ability to walk, talk, eat, and think. The final result is a slow, ugly death. Children of parents with HD have a 50-50 chance of inheriting the disease. There is no cure or treatment.
Blog Posts from 2014
Outrage over video of police’s rough handling of man with Huntington's disease spurs calls for justice, awareness, Kenneth P. Serbin
Moving toward a potential treatment: Isis, CHDI researchers outline upcoming Huntington's disease gene-silencing trials, Kenneth P. Serbin
News flash: Isis and Roche hope to start Huntington's gene-silencing trials in first half of 2015, Kenneth P. Serbin
Bidding farewell to CoQ10: a long-studied supplement proves ineffective in the fight against Huntington's disease, Kenneth P. Serbin
Making the threat of Huntington’s disease ‘small stuff', Kenneth P. Serbin
Can we afford the costs of orphan disease treatments?, Kenneth P. Serbin
New California stem cell chief stresses speed and efficiency in search for treatments, Kenneth P. Serbin
Fear of onset: the inescapable reality of the Huntington's disease gene carrier, Kenneth P. Serbin
Anonymous donors, confidentiality, and how we all must work to defeat Huntington's disease, Kenneth P. Serbin
Support from unaffected relatives makes big difference in fight against Huntington's disease, Kenneth P. Serbin
Fathoming Huntington’s disease, genetic testing and the biotechnological era in an academic setting, Kenneth P. Serbin
After a Social Security setback, HDSA steps up advocacy on Huntington's disability criteria, Kenneth P. Serbin
Woody Guthrie, Huntington’s disease, and our duty to improve caregiving, Kenneth P. Serbin
Reshaping my career and life in the face of Huntington's disease (and a note of hope), Kenneth P. Serbin
What’s in a name? How Huntington’s disease gene carriers are seen by themselves and others, Kenneth P. Serbin
‘It’s really getting real’: payoffs in the effort to treat Huntington's disease, Kenneth P. Serbin
Accentuating the positive: Olympic medalist Sarah Winckless's strategy against Huntington's disease, Kenneth P. Serbin
To take, or not to take, unproven supplements in the fight against Huntington's disease, Kenneth P. Serbin
Proof of heaven? My ongoing search for the meaning of Huntington's disease in life and death, Kenneth P. Serbin
Riding the advocacy revolution: stem cell activists. the future of CIRM, and public awareness, Kenneth P. Serbin
Game-changers in the fight against disease: a report from the World Cup Cell Summit, Kenneth P. Serbin
Blog Posts from 2013
It’s playoff time – and a reminder that brain health comes first, Kenneth P. Serbin
Creating a Christmas memory for a Huntington’s family, Kenneth P. Serbin
‘Alive and Well’ captures struggle against untreatable brain disorder, Kenneth P. Serbin
A Huntington’s Thanksgiving message: gratitude for health and the ability to work, Kenneth P. Serbin