At 47 years old, Greg Busch can no longer work, drive, cook or even use the microwave. He occasionally trips and falls. Some days, his speech is coherent - other days, he slurs his words. When people ask if he’s intoxicated, Busch replies, “No, I have Huntington’s disease.” Unfortunately, there’s no cure at the moment, but researchers are getting closer. Huntington’s disease causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain, leading to involuntary movements and cognitive issues. It’s also genetic. Busch was diagnosed when he was 40. His father, grandmother and uncle all had it. Busch’s 23-year-old son has a 50 percent chance of developing the disease, but hasn’t been tested. “Right now, he doesn’t want to know,” says Busch. “It’s understandable.”
For the last 13 years, Busch has been married to his wife, Julie. He calls her the “love of his life.” The two still try to have date nights as much as possible. Julie is also there for his appointments at Nebraska Medicine's Huntington’s Disease Clinic - the only one in the area that focuses on managing the patient’s symptoms.
To schedule an appointment or learn more about the Huntington's Disease Clinic at Nebraska Medicine, call (877) 647-7497.