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PRINTER'S NO. 3447
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
875
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY J. McNEILL, KIRKLAND, MURT, KINSEY, HARKINS, HILL-
EVANS, BIZZARRO, RYAN, CORR, HENNESSEY, TOOHIL, SCHLOSSBERG,
DAVIS, READSHAW, DUSH, SONNEY, McCARTER, MILLARD, BARBIN,
YOUNGBLOOD, WARD, LONGIETTI, CALTAGIRONE, SOLOMON, BURNS,
D. COSTA, McCLINTON, MARSICO, NEILSON, DRISCOLL AND DALEY,
APRIL 26, 2018
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 26, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of May 2018 as "Huntington's Disease
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Huntington's disease is a fatal genetic disorder
that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the
brain, leading to the deterioration of an individual's physical
and mental abilities; and
WHEREAS, Symptoms of Huntington's disease include personality
changes, mood swings, depression, forgetfulness, impaired
judgment, unsteady gait, involuntary movements, slurred speech,
difficulty in swallowing and significant weight loss; and
WHEREAS, Symptoms usually first appear in individuals between
30 and 50 years of age and worsen over a 10-year to 25-year
period; and
WHEREAS, The Huntington's Disease Society of America
estimates that there are approximately 30,000 symptomatic
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Americans and more than 200,000 are at risk of inheriting the
faulty gene that causes the disease; and
WHEREAS, Huntington's disease is known as the quintessential
family disease because every child of a parent with Huntington's
disease has a 50% chance of carrying the faulty gene and
developing the disease; and
WHEREAS, Huntington's disease slowly diminishes the affected
individual's ability to walk, think, talk and reason, eventually
rendering the individual totally dependent upon others for his
or her care; and
WHEREAS, While medications can alleviate some of the
symptoms, no treatment is available to alter the course of
Huntington's disease; and
WHEREAS, Huntington's disease profoundly affects the lives of
entire families emotionally, socially and economically; and
WHEREAS, Lack of knowledge about Huntington's disease may
keep friends and neighbors from offering social and emotional
support to the family, fostering unnecessary isolation; and
WHEREAS, Researchers identified the gene that causes
Huntington's disease in 1993 and have continued to develop
treatments in the hope of ultimately finding a cure; and
WHEREAS, The Huntington's Disease Society of America is
dedicated to improving the lives of all individuals affected by
Huntington's disease and has created a network of support
through education, advocacy and outreach; and
WHEREAS, There is still a need for greater public awareness
of Huntington's disease and more activity at the national, State
and local levels to support affected individuals as well as
their families and caregivers; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
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month of May 2018 as "Huntington's Disease Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania.
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