4. Cognitive Decline: The Unseen Impact of Juvenile HD
While the physical symptoms of Juvenile HD are noticeable, the cognitive decline is a silent intruder. Children affected may experience significant problems with thought processes, a symptom that’s heartbreaking for families to witness.
Cognitive impairment in Juvenile HD includes a drop in overall IQ and difficulties with visual-spatial processing. Essentially, these children find it increasingly hard to comprehend the world around them. It’s akin to watching the world through a foggy window that’s constantly becoming more opaque.
Another heartbreaking reality is the effect on the child’s academic performance. They may start struggling with schoolwork, falling behind their peers. Tasks requiring planning and organized thought become mountains that seem insurmountable. It’s like the ground is constantly shifting beneath their feet, making it hard to keep their balance.
This cognitive decline isn’t just about a drop in grades or difficulties with tasks. It’s about the children losing a piece of their identity. The abilities they prided themselves on, the tasks they excelled at, are gradually taken from them. It’s a slow, painful erasure of who they once were. (4)
