Most diseases have a genetic component, including common chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Various genetic and environmental factors influence these conditions. Huntington’s disease (HD) is a genetic disorder passed on as an autosomal dominant trait during conception. HD manifests as a movement disorder characterized by neurologic and behavioral clinical manifestations that usually become apparent from 30 to 50 years and worsen in the next one to two decades of a person’s life (McColgan & Tabrizi, 2018). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the influence of genetics on policy, nutritional influences in HD, and the nutritional assessment and counseling process.
The genetic composition of a single disease and a person’s genetic makeup guide clinical decision-making. We are currently in a period where specific genetic knowledge has become crucial to effective health care delivery. When no therapies are available, genetic tests are used to prevent an affected child’s conception or birth (Chapman et al., 2020). However, genetic tests have led to various policy issues and advocacies on the need for policies to regulate genetic testing. The current genetic policies do not guarantee that adequate data on the predictability of genetic tests will be obtained before they get into clinical practice (Ruhl et al., 2020). They do not also assure that high laboratory quality will be maintained once tests are utilized clinically, and that genetic test results will benefit individuals who are tested.
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Genetic tests have been associated with adverse social consequences like discrimination and breaches of confidentiality, which are barriers to testing. This has influenced the development of policies to minimize these consequences to promote a wide acceptance of genetic tests. Besides, there has been a demand for the enactment of government policies to promote the safe and effective implementation of genetic tests (Ruhl et al., 2020). Furthermore, genetics has influenced policy with laws being developed requiring laboratories conducting genetic tests to have special quality assurance procedures. The US Task Force on Genetic Testing advocates for a policy that requires health organizations to invent new genetic tests to present to institutional review boards, protocols for determining the clinical validity, including sensitivity and positive predictive value, and utility of the test (Chapman et al., 2020). Genetic testing has also led to policies issues on the need to have healthcare providers being mandated to provide quality pretest and post-test education and counseling to patients
HD is an autosomal dominant hereditary disorder, and no nutritional causes have been identified as causes of the disease. Nonetheless, patients with HD develop motor, cognitive, psychiatric, and communication problems, necessitating consideration of nutritional factors. Christodoulou et al. (2020) explain that micronutrients like vitamin C, D, and E, are vital elements usually needed in small amounts. They are essential in maintaining physiological function, promoting good health, and the growth and development of a person. Studies have established the importance of micronutrients like vitamin C, vitamin E, flavonoids, and carotenoids as exogenous antioxidants that can eliminate free radicals that cause neurodegeneration.
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Macronutrients, including carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, are essential for maintaining normal human body functions, including neuronal health. For instance, fatty acids curb the risk of developing cognitive impairment and dementia. Studies have shown the positive impact of the Mediterranean Diet (MD) on neurodegenerative disorders (Christodoulou et al., 2020). Persons who adhere to the diet have a lower incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s since MD has beneficial effects in decreasing cognitive decline. Poor nutrition significantly affects functioning in patients with neurological conditions (Christodoulou et al., 2020). Thus, it is crucial to ensure optimal nutrition in patients with HD so that these difficulties are not worsened by poor diet.
Nutritional assessment is a vital initial step in en
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