Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Fractionation for Resolution of Soluble and Insoluble Huntingtin Species
07:08

Fractionation for Resolution of Soluble and Insoluble Huntingtin Species

Published on: February 27, 2018

Huntington's disease

Karen E Anderson1

  • 1Movement Disorders Division, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore 21201, USA. kanderson@psych.umaryland.edu

Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|April 19, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurological disorder with cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. While treatments for neurological and cognitive aspects are limited, psychiatric interventions improve quality of life and may slow disease progression.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive, inherited neurodegenerative disorder.
  • HD affects neurological, cognitive, and psychiatric domains, often concurrently.
  • Current treatments for neurological and cognitive symptoms are limited, with no disease-modifying therapies available.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current state of Huntington's disease treatment.
  • To highlight the impact of psychiatric symptoms and their management.
  • To discuss ongoing research for symptomatic and disease-modifying treatments.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing Huntington's disease research.
  • Analysis of treatment efficacy for different symptom domains.
  • Overview of current clinical trials for HD therapeutics.

Main Results:

  • Psychiatric symptoms in HD often respond well to psychiatric medication.
  • Effective management of behavioral symptoms can improve patient and caregiver quality of life.
  • Numerous clinical trials are investigating both symptomatic and disease-modifying treatments for HD.

Conclusions:

  • While neurological and cognitive treatments for HD remain limited, psychiatric interventions offer significant benefits.
  • Aggressive management of psychiatric symptoms is crucial for improving quality of life in HD patients.
  • Ongoing research holds promise for future therapeutic advancements in Huntington's disease.

More Related Videos

Efficient and Scalable Production of Full-length Human Huntingtin Variants in Mammalian Cells using a Transient Expression System10:52

Efficient and Scalable Production of Full-length Human Huntingtin Variants in Mammalian Cells using a Transient Expression System

Published on: December 10, 2021

Whole-brain Segmentation and Change-point Analysis of Anatomical Brain MRI—Application in Premanifest Huntington's Disease09:06

Whole-brain Segmentation and Change-point Analysis of Anatomical Brain MRI—Application in Premanifest Huntington's Disease

Published on: June 9, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Huntington Disease l: Introduction01:21

Huntington Disease l: Introduction

Huntington disease or HD is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.PathophysiologyIt is caused by expansion of the CAG trinucleotide repeat in the HTT gene on chromosome 4 (4p16.3), producing an abnormal huntingtin protein with an expanded polyglutamine tract. This misfolded protein disrupts cellular function, leading to neuronal death. Normal alleles have ≤26 repeats, 27–35 are intermediate (risk of expansion), 36–39 show reduced penetrance,...
Parkinson's Disease: Overview01:15

Parkinson's Disease: Overview

Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive diseases that cause irreversible damage and loss to neurons in specific brain areas. Examples of these disorders include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These disorders share characteristics such as proteinopathies, selective neuronal vulnerability, and a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The primary therapeutic goal for these conditions is to...
Parkinson Disease l: Introduction01:24

Parkinson Disease l: Introduction

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement. It is characterized by motor symptoms such as resting tremors, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability. Patients may notice hand tremors at rest, stiffness during movement, or a shuffling gait. In addition to motor features, non-motor symptoms include sleep disturbances, mood and behavioral changes, constipation, and cognitive impairment, all of which...
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:24

Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction01:29

Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction

Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...
Disorders of the Nervous Tissue01:28

Disorders of the Nervous Tissue

Nervous tissue is a vital component of the human body's communication system, enabling us to perceive and respond to stimuli. However, like all other tissues, it is vulnerable to disorders and diseases that can significantly impact our neurological functioning.
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...