File #: Res 1351-2008    Version: * Name: Declaring May 15, 2008, as “Huntington’s Disease Awareness Day” in the City of New York.
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Health
On agenda: 4/16/2008
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution declaring May 15, 2008, as “Huntington’s Disease Awareness Day” in the City of New York.
Sponsors: Darlene Mealy, Gale A. Brewer, Lewis A. Fidler, Sara M. Gonzalez, Michael C. Nelson, Annabel Palma, James Sanders, Jr., David I. Weprin, Thomas White, Jr.
Council Member Sponsors: 9
Attachments: 1. Committee Report, 2. Press Release, 3. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 5/14/08, 4. Hearing Transcript
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
5/14/2008*Darlene Mealy City Council Approved, by CouncilPass Action details Meeting details Not available
5/1/2008*Darlene Mealy Committee on Health Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
5/1/2008*Darlene Mealy Committee on Health Approved by CommitteePass Action details Meeting details Not available
4/16/2008*Darlene Mealy City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/16/2008*Darlene Mealy City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Res. No. 1351

 

Resolution declaring May 15, 2008, as “Huntington’s Disease Awareness Day” in the City of New York.

 

By Council Members Mealy, Brewer, Fidler, Gonzalez, Nelson, Palma, Sanders Jr., Weprin and White Jr.

 

                     Whereas, According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Huntington’s disease results from genetically programmed degeneration of brain cells, called neurons, in certain areas of the brain; and

                     Whereas, The degeneration of neurons causes uncontrolled movements, loss of intellectual faculties, and emotional disturbance; and

                     Whereas, Huntington’s disease is a familial disease, passed from parent to child through a mutation in the normal gene and each child of a parent with Huntington’s disease has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the Huntington’s disease gene; and

                     Whereas, A person who inherits the Huntington’s disease gene will eventually develop the disease; and

                     Whereas, The duration of the illness ranges from 10 to 30 years and the most common causes of death are infection, injuries related to a fall or other complications; and

                     Whereas, A person suffering from Huntington’s disease can reach the point where speech is slurred and vital functions such as swallowing, eating, speaking, and especially walking, continue to decline; and

                     Whereas, Currently, there is no way to stop or reverse the course of Huntington’s disease, although a person can receive treatment through a number of medications to help control emotional and movement problems associated with Huntington’s disease; and

                     Whereas, The Huntington’s disease gene has been located, and scientists continue to study the gene to gain understanding of how it causes disease in the human body; and

                     Whereas, NINDS indicates that in the United States, about 30,000 people have Huntington’s disease, with an estimated prevalence of 1 in every 10,000, and at least 150,000 others have a 50 percent risk of developing the disease; and

                     Whereas, In 1991, former President George Bush declared the Month of May as National Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month; and

                     Whereas, A local day of awareness in New York City would highlight the impact Huntington’s disease has on those who suffer from it and their families, as well as the importance of research efforts to find a cure; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York declares May 15, 2008, as “Huntington’s Disease Awareness Day” in the City of New York.

 

 

SO/JA

LS #4631

4/15/08

11:50am