Question

Of the neurological disorders discussed, which do you think is the most devastating or severe? Support your answer by citing evidence. Specifically, incorporate 1-2 research findings that support your stance that the disorder you selected is the most severe in its effects. You can select whatever “effect” you’d like including effect on the individual (body, health, ageing), family or society. Your posts should be at least 300 words in length

Answer 1

Neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Huntington disease and Parkinson's diseases are the most devastating brain diseases for human beings. Among three, I will discuss more Huntington disease in detail.
It is a progressive neurological disorder caused due to aggregation of the huntingtin protein. It damages the neurons and hence the function of the brain. It is one of the old age diseases and symptoms appear mostly in between 50 to 60 years of age. However, it is also observed in the juvenile. This juvenile disease caused to a mutation in the huntingtin protein, which leads to aggregation in an early age. It is more dangerous because it is hereditary disease. No line in the evolutionary family tree will escape from this disease. Therefore it is also termed as hereditary family disorder. Symptoms of the disease include involuntary jerking or writhing movements, muscle problems, impaired gait, posture and balance, etc.
Huntingtin protein is a 700 amino acids long. Within this protein, Exon-1 region is considered to be affected in the diseased condition. Exon-1 region contains N-terminal Nt-17 region, then polyQ stretch and C-terminal polyproline region. In normal healthy individuals, 35 polyQ amino acids are present. But in case of the diseased condition due to mutation in the exon-1 gene, this threshold goes above Q35, which leads to the protein aggregation.
Literature research suggested that protein aggregates contain amyloid structures that are rich in beta-sheets. The amyloid structure is protease resistant and will not remove once they form. Literature evidence also suggested that post-translational modification at the N-terminal Nt-17 region of amino acids also leads to aggregation of proteins. Therefore mutations that lead to increase poly Q stretch above 35 amino acids and post-translation modification are the leading cause of protein aggregation and hence for this neurological disorder.
Despite many research studies, still, we do not have any drug molecule to cure this disease and family heirs has to suffer from this disease if their parent has. Therefore considering its biochemical, physiological and biological consequences, I quote this neurological disorder as the most devastating disorder.