Huntington’s Disease Awareness Day

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

Huntington's Disease Awareness Day

WHEREAS, Huntington's disease is a progressive degenerative neurological disease affecting 41,000 Americans while another 200,000 are genetically "at risk" of inheriting the expanded gene responsible for causing the disease; and

WHEREAS, each child of a parent with Huntington's disease has a 50 percent chance of inheriting Huntington's disease gene; and

WHEREAS, Huntington's disease typically develops in midlife, most often between the ages of 30 and 50, although onset has been documented in children as young as 2 years old; and

WHEREAS, the average lifespan following the onset of Huntington's disease is 10 to 20 years; notably, earlier onset is associated with increased rapid progression of the disease, and children who develop the juvenile form of the disease seldom live to adulthood; and

WHEREAS, since the 1993 discovery of the gene responsible for Huntington's disease, research efforts have advanced at an accelerated pace and scientists nationwide continue to pursue vital studies on Huntington's Disease, which at present has no effective treatment or cure; and

WHEREAS, raising awareness of Huntington's disease among both the public and the medical community is essential to advancing research and supporting individuals and families affected by the condition; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, Governor, do hereby recognize May 15, 2026, as HUNTINGTON'S AWARENESS DAY and May 2026 as HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.