Joe O’Brien is a veteran Boston police officer experiencing involuntary tremors and uncharacteristic outbursts of temper. A neurologist confirms he has Huntington’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative condition with no known cure. Because the disorder is hereditary with a fifty-percent transmission rate, his four adult children face the choice of undergoing genetic testing to learn their own status. The narrative tracks Joe’s physical decline through failing motor control and cognitive shifts while his children, particularly his daughter Katie, navigate the psychological burden of a predictive diagnosis that dictates their biological futures.
Readers interested in the intersection of clinical pathology and family dynamics will find a detailed account of how genetic illness alters domestic life. This book serves those looking for a technical yet humanized look at the mechanics of neurological decay and the ethical dilemmas of genomic screening. The reader learns about the biological progression of Huntington’s and the specific social hurdles families encounter when a fatal, inherited trait is introduced into their medical history.
Inward-looking and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2015
- Language
- EN
