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HD results from genetically programmed degeneration of brain cells, called neurons,
in certain areas of the brain. This degeneration causes uncontrolled movements, loss of intellectual faculties, and emotional
disturbance.
Specifically affected are cells of the basal ganglia, structures deep within the
brain that have a number of important functions, including coordinating movement. |
Within the basal ganglia, HD especially targets neurons of the striatum, particularly
those in the caudate nuclei and the pallidum. Also affected is the brain's outer surface, or cortex,
which controls thought, perception, and memory. |
