Porter Ranch Attorney’s Late-Onset Huntington’s Diagnosis Sheds Light on Little-Known Struggles

Porter Ranch, CA — For decades, James* was the very definition of success: a respected attorney, a devoted husband, and the proud patriarch of a thriving family. But behind the closed doors of his well-appointed home, a different story was quietly unfolding—one that would culminate in a devastating diagnosis at the age of 70.

It began innocuously enough in his early 40s, with persistent, but light, movement in his leg, known as chorea. His wife, unaware of its significance, dismissed it as a minor nuisance. “He would drop things, bump into furniture, and sometimes break items around the house,” she recalls. But as the symptoms grew, so did James’s struggles outside the home. Once known for his integrity and dedication, his behavior began to change. He would leave the house late at night, returning at odd hours. Infidelity followed, and with it, a string of decisions that baffled and hurt his family—including giving over $50,000 to the daughter of a mistress for her education.

Financial troubles soon followed. Years of poor decisions and erratic behavior led to the loss of their home and life savings. Still, the family had no answers. Therapy sessions only ended in anger and denial, with James storming out, never to return. “He was so defensive,” his wife remembers. “He refused to consider that anything was wrong.”

It wasn’t until a routine visit to his oncologist that the truth emerged: late-onset Huntington’s disease, a rare genetic disorder characterized by progressive movement, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms. The diagnosis wasn’t entirely a shock, as James’s brother was also diagnosed in his 40’s, but the family paid no attention to HD, and neither did James at the time.

For James, the diagnosis was more than a medical label—it was a blow to his identity. In his mind, illness equated to weakness, and the stigma was too much to bear. “He didn’t want anyone to know,” his wife shares. “He always said that illness is seen as weakness, and no one can know.”

Today, James is being cared for by his wife, who once left him for an entire year due to his infidelity and choices. She is a dedicated wife and caregiver. “Please wake up and get ahead of things,” she says with an experienced, kind, and loving tone.

James’s story is a sobering reminder of the hidden toll that Huntington’s can take, especially when symptoms develop late and are masked by stigma or misunderstanding. As families across the country grapple with the effects of this devastating disease, advocates hope that increased awareness can lead to earlier diagnoses, better support, and compassion for those affected.

*Name changed for privacy.