Huntington's disease is caused by inheritance.
A genetic disorder is a genetic problem caused by one or more abnormalities in the genome , especially a condition that is present from birth ( congenital ) . Huntington 's disease ( HD ) , also known as Huntington 's chorea , is an inherited disorder that results in death of brain cells . HD is typically inherited from a person 's parents , with 10 % of cases due to a new mutation . The disease is caused by an autosomal dominant mutation in either of an individual 's two copies of a gene called Huntingtin .