Nutrition and Huntington's Disease

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Nutrition and Huntington's Disease
Anna Gaba, MS, RD, EdM
Huntington'sDisease

People with increased caloric needs must often be encouraged to eat even when they are not hungry in order to meet their nutritional requirements. This is usually not true of people with HD. They often have excellent appetites and sometimes eat very quickly. Frustration at being unable to get sufficient food down quickly enough without choking on it can exacerbate the psychological problems associated with food and eating in Huntington's Disease.

One approach to this problem is to provide six to eight smaller meals per day instead of the usual three. Frequent feeding can stave off the most high-level hunger and diminish eating urgency. Another approach is to offer frequent snacks or liquid supplements between meals.
As the disease progresses, and various activities of daily living become impossible, maintenance of independence in self-feeding becomes increasingly important. Foods should be selected with this capacity in mind. Items that are easier to manipulate may be the most appropriate. Also, with diminished capabilities in other areas, catering to food preferences provides an important psychological boost.

When it is no longer for the HD patient to meet his or her nutritional needs with an oral intake, feedings may be initiated. Tube feedings may be given either as a supplement to an oral diet, or as a sole means of nutritional support. This type of feeding is discussed further in Section 6.

->Nutritional Needs in Early, Middle and Advanced Stages of HD