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Difficulty modifying a sustained motor response in prodromal Huntington's disease
Laura Mickes1, John T Wixted, Guerry M Peavy
1Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0109, USA. lmickes@ucsd.edu
Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology
|December 4, 2012
Summary
Motor slowing is an early sign of preclinical Huntington's disease (prHD). Individuals with prHD show delayed reaction times in releasing movements, indicating motor program modification difficulties before clinical diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Movement Disorders
- Genetics
Background:
- Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder.
- Preclinical stage of HD is characterized by the CAG expanded repeat.
- Motor symptoms are key indicators of neurological disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate motor symptoms in the preclinical stage of Huntington's disease (prHD).
- To identify early motor deficits in individuals with the CAG expanded repeat.
- To understand the nature of motor slowing in preclinical HD.
Main Methods:
- Comparative study involving individuals with prHD and two control groups.
- Assessment using a task involving releasing and ballistic movements.
- Measurement of movement times for releasing and ballistic components separately.
Main Results:
- The prHD group exhibited significantly longer reaction times for releasing movements compared to controls.
- No significant differences were observed in movement times for ballistic movements between groups.
- Motor slowing was identified as an early indicator in preclinical Huntington's disease.
Conclusions:
- Motor slowing is detectable prior to clinical diagnosis in Huntington's disease.
- Difficulty in modifying sustained motor programs may underlie observed motor deficits.
- Early identification of motor symptoms can aid in understanding HD progression.
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