May 2022: Huntington's Disease Awareness Month

WHEREAS, Huntington’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting more than 30,000 Americans, while another 200,000 are genetically at risk of inheriting the expanded gene responsible for causing the disease; and,

WHEREAS, each child of a parent with Huntington’s disease has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the condition, which can present at earlier ages in successive generations; and,

WHEREAS, Huntington’s disease typically occurs in mid-life, between the ages of 30 and 50, although a less common juvenile form can present in childhood or adolescence; and,

WHEREAS, the average life expectancy of individuals with Huntington’s disease is 10-20 years after symptoms begin, and earlier age of onset is associated with more rapid disease progression; and,

WHEREAS, since the discovery of the gene that causes Huntington’s disease in 1993, the pace of research has accelerated, and today scientists across the nation are conducting important research into Huntington’s disease, which at present has no effective treatment or cure; and,

WHEREAS, it is critical to the success of research and support services to raise awareness in the general public and the medical community about Huntington’s disease;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim May 2022 as Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month in Michigan.