HD Blog

You haven't returned my email, are you rude or did I offend you?
No! I receive hundreds of personal, business and blog related emails. If I answered all my emails I wouldn't have time to update this blog. Also, I own a business that takes quite a bit of my time.

Who is this Dave at the bottom of the messages?

My name is Dave Bowdish and I live in Colorado.

How do I reach you?

You can email me at: Dave-at-Huntingtons-dot-info

Are you an Expert?

Nope, not even close. I'm not a medical expert, legal expert or financial expert. Always consult a qualified expert before acting on anything you read here or anywhere else.

Is the HD Blog associated with any particular HD organization?

No. Though this blog supports many HD organizations, it is independent.

Do you have Huntington's Disease?

No. Huntington's Disease does not run in my family. I became involved in HD when I became close friends with a family that was hit hard (aren’t they all?) by the disease. I'm now involved in two HD support groups and I support the local HDSA chapter office.

Why did you start this blog?

When I first started researching HD, like many I had a difficult time finding current information. Especially information that was 'understandable' to the layman. The more I read, the more excited I became about the rapid advances in research.

Eventually I was emailing the information (with translations) to friends and family. As my email list got longer, it became apparent that there is a real thirst for information in the HD community. The HD Blog is a way to distribute this information, along with some hope and support, to a broader audience.

How is this site funded?

Right now all the expenses are paid by "Starving Geeks", a technology consulting company. In the future we will be accepting contributions online to help cover the costs of this website and other expenses such as the purchase of reports and medical journals.

If you'd like to contribute now you can send a check to:

Centennial Business Services LLC
PO Box 371257
Denver, CO 80237

Make the check payable to "Centennial Business Services" and mention it is for the HD Blog. Thanks in advance.

Is there hope?

Yes, there's hope! For ten years we've been hearing that a cure is "right around the corner". As it turns out, it wasn't. However, the progress in research is now starting to accelerate. Why the recent acceleration? Because, as Huntington’s Disease becomes better understood, the research is better targeted. Which, in turn, further increases the knowledge of HD.

So are you then saying a cure is "right around the corner"?

Even if it is who would believe it now?

Seriously though, they are now identifying drugs and supplements that slow the progression of the disease. Nobody can predict the future but I expect to see drugs (that are already approved for other uses) that significantly slow HD progression by the end of 2005. I expect to see approved treatments that are very effective against HD by 2007-2008 and I believe we'll see a 'cure' or equivalent approved by 2008 to 2010. A cure or effective treatment could come sooner, but I believe these are realistic estimates.

It's important for anybody who has Huntington's, or is at risk, to do every thing they can to stay as healthy as possible so that they can get the maximum benefit from the coming treatments (and cure).

What can I do to “stay as healthy as possible”?

The best resource is HD Lighthouse’s HDL Triad.

If all this information is too intimidating, here is a good rule of thumb to follow:

”If they say it is good for your heart (exercise, diet, anti-oxidants, etc.), it’s probably good for HD.”