Juvenile Huntington Disease (JHD) is a less common, early-onset form of Huntington’s disease that begins in childhood or adolescence.

JHD is often defined by the onset of symptoms before age 20, which can occur when the CAG repeat expansion is larger than 60 repeats. Fewer than ten percent of individuals with HD develop symptoms before age of 20.

Check out HDSA’s “Here’s the Deal with Parenting a Child with Juvenile Huntington’s Disease” video:

HDYO Camp

Now Accepting Applications until March 15th

Click here to register or learn more

We are incredibly excited to host our 7th North American HDYO Camp! 

Camp offers young people the chance to meet others impacted by HD to learn about HD through educational workshops and share experiences with plenty of fun participating in the many on-site activities like swimming, rock climbing, hiking, archery and much more.

Why Camp Matters:

In 2024, one camper recalled, “Camp was phenomenal, there is truly nothing like it. The understanding and love that everyone has for each other there is amazing. It was extremely beneficial because I never give myself the chance to feel my emotions, but camp allows me that safe and warm space to do so.”

Another participant reflected, “This was genuinely the most emotional but eye-opening experience for me. This trip has truly changed my perspective on a lot of things, but especially on life. I woke up early Wednesday morning, August 14, and sat on the rocks and watched the sunrise, and I realized something. Despite HD, despite chronic illness and mental illness, despite everything, I felt happy. I felt happy to be alive, which is something I never thought I could say.⁠ I hope, for all of you, affected by HD or not, that you find some group of people who understand you, and can support you throughout life’s hardships. It genuinely makes such a difference. I have made friends with people who have genuinely impacted my life during this trip, and I hope I can do the same for them. It was genuinely life changing.⁠ I’m so proud of the people I have met and the difference they have made in my life. I have a community I feel like I belong to, my family.”⁠

General Details

• Dates: August 10-14, 2026

• Location: Camp St. Charlest, Maryland, US

• Who is Eligible

  • Young people impacted by HD

  • 16-25 years old

  • Living in Canada, Puerto Rico, or the US

For more information about JHD:

• Dr. Bird’s Nest – Blog: July 2020 – What is Juvenile HD?
• HD Buzz – Kids sometimes get Huntington’s disease too
• HDSA – Juvenile HD
• HOPES (Huntington’s Outreach Project for Education, at Stanford) – Juvenile Huntington’s Disease
• HDSA Family Guide Series: Juvenile Onset HD (PDF – 13 pages )
• HDSA – The Juvenile HD Handbook A Guide for Families and Caregivers (PDF – 97 pages )
• Juvenile HD and the School Experience: Education and the Child Affected by Juvenile Onset HD (PDF – 140 pages)