HD AssocNZ/NZ Research

The Huntington's Scene In New Zealand

Site Maintained by
Graham Taylor

Site Resources available from the Homepage
NZ HD Diagnosis, Care & Support Key Site Resources Research Newsletters Books	About Huntingtons Disease HD Resources About the Associations Youth

New Zealand Research

(1) Brain Bank The establishment of the Brain Bank in New Zealand at Auckland University for undertaking diagnostic studies on Huntington's Disease was suggested by Professor Arthur Veale to Professor Richard Faull in 1981. Initially they confirmed the diagnosis of Huntington's Disease to the families and investigated the pattern of cell death in the basal ganglia.
(2) Family Responses to Predictive Testing By Allison Grey

1. This research project investigated people’s experiences of and family responses to predictive testing in the Central Regional Genetics Service (CRGS) area. The project was based on a similar study carried out in Victoria, Australia.

2. The Victorian questionnaire was modified as a result of information obtained through in-depth interviews with five New Zealand families and to suit the CRGS model of predictive testing.

Staff at the CRGS wrote to the 64 people who had taken the predictive test and received their results before 31 December 1996. 42 people agreed to take part and 33 completed questionnaires. This means that half of the possible sample took part in the survey

(3) Benifits of the Camps for Young People From HD Families

All three camps have had the following objectives:

to enable young people from families with Huntington's Disease to meet others in similar circumstances
to enable young people to share information and experiences about Huntington's Disease
to encourage young people to support each other and by doing so, to develop a mutual support network
to have fun.