In House M.D., what disease is Dr. Remy Hadley at risk of inheriting from her mother?

Dr. Remy Hadley is at risk of inheriting Huntington’s disease from her mother in House M.D. The inherited neurological disorder is a major part of the character’s background and helps explain her guarded approach to relationships and medical testing.

Huntington’s disease is caused by a mutation in the HTT gene and is inherited in an autosomal-dominant pattern. A person with one affected parent has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the altered gene, although the age and severity of symptoms can vary.

Hadley’s decision about predictive genetic testing becomes an important storyline. The show explores the emotional consequences of knowing that a person may develop a progressive illness, not merely the mechanics of diagnosis.

The condition is sometimes confused with Parkinson’s disease because both can involve movement problems. Wilson’s disease is another tempting answer because it shares a surname with a major character, but it is a separate disorder involving copper accumulation and is not Hadley’s inherited risk.