§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of sufferers from Huntington's chorea and of the number of families at risk; what research is being undertaken to advance knowledge of this disease, its aetiology, treatment and social implications; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonFirm statistics are not available but there are believed to be about 2,000 sufferers from Huntington's Chorea in England and Wales. No estimate of the number of families at risk is available.
I understand that the Medical Research Council's Brain Metabolism Unit at Edinburgh, together with the Department of Social Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, is undertaking research into the incidence and family distribution of Huntington's Chorea and that the council also supports a wide range of basic neurological work which could advance knowledge of this disease.