Who Are Some Famous People With Huntington’s Disease?

Some famous people with Huntington’s disease are Woody Guthrie and Trey Gray. Woody Guthrie, a famous American folk musician, received his Huntington’s disease diagnosis in 1952, and he died in 1967. Guthrie was originally misdiagnosed as an alcoholic and moved in and out of mental institutions and hospitals.

Trey Gray is a drummer for Brooks and Dunn and credits drumming for helping him cope with the disorder. According to Genetics Home Reference, this incurable genetic disorder affects 3 to 7 per 100,000 people of European ancestry and passes from parent to child through a mutation in the normal gene. Symptoms vary widely, but may include mood changes, cognitive impairments and lack of muscle control.