A review of the treatment options for Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant, inherited, neuropsychiatric disease which gives rise to progressive motor, cognitive and behavioural symptoms. Its core pathology involves degeneration of the basal ganglia, in particular, the caudate and putamen, and is caused by a single autosomal gene coding for a mutated form of the protein, huntingtin. At the present time, the only treatment options available in HD are symptomatic. There are several substances available today for the treatment of chorea. Other neurological symptoms, such as dystonia, can be treated, but treatment is associated with a high risk of adverse events. Psychiatric symptoms, on the other hand, are often amenable to treatment and relief of these symptoms may provide significant improvement in quality of life.