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Auchterarder's Sarah Mitchell determined to help others after losing mum to Huntington’s disease

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dailyrecord.co.uk

A student from Auchterarder who lost her mum to Huntington’s disease has spoken out about the impact of the rare neurological condition on families.Sarah Mitchell (17) was devastated by her mum Natalie’s passing 18 months ago when she was aged just 55.Now in an effort to increase people’s understanding of HD Sarah, who studies at Perth College UHI, has joined Scottish Huntington’s Association as a volunteer youth ambassador to support other young people and boost research funding.Huntington’s disease is a complex condition - caused by a hereditary faulty gene - with symptoms that typically begin to develop between the ages of 30 and 50.Coming to terms with her loss was made even more difficult for Sarah because pandemic restrictions meant that for a long time she hadn’t been able to visit her mum in the care home where she lived.Natalie needed 24-hour care because of her symptoms.As the disease progresses, people develop uncontrolled movements and lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink or swallow.Mental health symptoms include depression, anxiety, personality changes, mood swings and, in some people, psychosis.The disease also damages cognition (thinking processes), leading to dementia and an inability to make decisions or plans.The dreadful toll on individuals and their loved ones is compounded by the reality that each child of someone with Huntington’s disease has a 50/50 risk of also having inherited the faulty gene that causes the incurable condition.“I was only seven when mum went to live in a care home.

So I can’t really remember a time when she was well,” Sarah explained.“I have photos to jog my memory and I know that, from what everyone tells me, mum was great fun and had lots of friends.“She was very funny

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