Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month: History, Facts & Insights

This is an in-depth look at all the must-know facts about Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month (2024) 🗓️ that no one tells you about. Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month is observed on May 1st.

Among the information you’ll find below: the history of Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month, activities to do on and how to observe this holiday, as well as intriguing facts you may want to know about Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month.

📅 What day is Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month 2024?

In 2024, Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month is on Monday, May 1st. It is the 1st Monday in May; in 2024, it is Wednesday. There are until the next observance. You also can view all the exciting details and facts about May 1, 2023, that you might not be aware of.

Each year in May, we observe Huntington Disease Awareness Month. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about Huntington’s disease (HD), a hereditary illness that currently has no cure. HD leads to the progressive deterioration of nerve cells in the brain, causing physical, mental, and emotional decline. While every month is important for spreading awareness about HD, May provides a unique opportunity to educate others, reduce stigma, offer support, and instill hope in individuals and families affected by HD. During this month, various buildings, monuments, and sculptures are often illuminated in blue and purple. The color blue represents HD, while purple represents juvenile Huntington’s disease. Throughout the country, patients, caregivers, family members, and friends organize fundraisers, plant virtual flowers, light landmarks in blue and purple, participate in walks, engage on social media, and share personal experiences with HD. These efforts aim to raise public awareness and garner attention from legislators, public officials, scientists, health experts, and industry representatives.

📜 Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month History

Thanks to the initiative of the Huntington’s Society of Canada, May has become a globally recognized month for raising awareness about Huntington’s Disease. This rare and hereditary brain disorder causes uncontrollable movements, emotional issues, and cognitive decline. Neurons in various parts of the brain, including those responsible for voluntary movement, gradually die off due to the disease. Named after George Huntington, who first described it in 1872, this condition can now be tested for using blood or tissue samples, thanks to the discovery of the gene causing the disease in 1993.

While some individuals are born with a mutated gene for ADHD, most do not show symptoms until later in life, meaning they can be asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic for many years. The initial symptoms of the disease may be mild and include difficulty moving, dementia, changes in personality, weight loss, swallowing difficulties, and speech impairments.

To raise awareness for Huntington’s disease, the #LightItUp4HD Campaign illuminated various sites and monuments in Canada with blue and purple lights. Blue represents Huntington’s Disease, while purple represents juvenile Huntington’s Disease. Throughout Huntington Disease Awareness Month, people are educated about the disease and its impact.

✅ Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month Facts

🔖 It is hereditary
Each offspring of a parent with Huntington’s disease has an equal probability of either inheriting or not inheriting the faulty gene, with a 50/50 chance for each outcome.

🔖 The H.D.S.A vs. #LetsTalkAboutH.D.
The #LetsTalkAboutH.D. initiative, organized by the Huntington’s Disease Society of Nigeria, aims to encourage families to openly discuss and share their personal stories and experiences related to H.D. on various social media platforms. Whether through narratives, videos, or images, the initiative seeks to create a platform where individuals can express their journeys with H.D.

🔖 It is a very rare disorder
Huntington’s disease impacts a small percentage of the European population, with a prevalence rate of three to seven individuals per 100,000 people.

👍 Why Is Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month Important

Every year in May, people gather in person or online to show support for people living with H.D. by sharing stories or experiences with them, celebrating them by lighting up their homes with H.D. colors, going on hikes, biking, and sharing photos, videos, and messages to make them feel loved.

During the #HDHike challenge, the H.D.A. asks supporters to raise funds for individuals living with H.D. by organizing their own five-mile walk or walking at least 8,000 steps daily until May. Each participant is expected to raise £100.

The National Virtual Walk, which takes place on May 29 and 30, brings together community members from all around the country for meaningful support services, advocacy, and fundraising. This is a simple approach for more people to become engaged in raising awareness and taking action as a group.

🙂 How To Observe Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month

⚡ Light up your home

⚡ Fill your social media feeds with blue and purple
To commemorate this month of awareness, why not make a social media post about it? Share pictures of yourself or your adorable pets donning blue or purple attire, or showcase captivating natural landscapes featuring shades of blue and purple.

⚡ Take hikes
Light up your environment and house with purple and blue lights to promote Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month and to support H.D. patients worldwide. Through your lights, inform everyone in your community about HD.

📅 When is Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month?

Discover all 🔗 May holidays, including 🔗 Health and other 🔗 Awareness holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and must-know facts about Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month. So be sure to check back soon.