Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Rating L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesias in the Unilaterally 6-OHDA-Lesioned Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
06:45

Rating L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesias in the Unilaterally 6-OHDA-Lesioned Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease

Published on: October 4, 2021

3.6K

Nonmotor Symptoms in Huntington Disease

Francisco Cardoso1

  • 1UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

International Review of Neurobiology
|August 15, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Huntington disease (HD) involves motor, cognitive, and behavioral changes. This chapter details nonmotor symptoms like depression and cognitive decline in HD patients and gene carriers, reviewing current management strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Clinical Neurology

Background:

  • Huntington disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder.
  • It is defined by motor, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms.
  • Nonmotor symptoms are increasingly recognized as significant aspects of HD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the frequency and clinical features of behavioral and cognitive dysfunction in Huntington disease.
  • To review the management strategies for these nonmotor symptoms.
  • To highlight the presence of these changes in premanifest gene carriers.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and expert consensus.
  • Analysis of clinical features and frequency of nonmotor symptoms.
  • Evaluation of current therapeutic options.

Main Results:

  • Common behavioral abnormalities include depression, apathy, irritability, and compulsions.
  • All patients with Huntington disease experience cognitive decline.
  • Nonmotor symptoms are detectable even in premanifest Huntington disease gene carriers.

Conclusions:

  • Behavioral and cognitive dysfunction are core features of Huntington disease.
  • Management relies on expert agreement due to limited empirical data.
  • Early identification of nonmotor symptoms in gene carriers is crucial for future interventions.

Keywords:
AgressivenessApathyChoreaDepressionHuntington diseaseIrritabilityObsessive compulsive behaviorsPsychosisSuicide

More Related Videos

Fractionation for Resolution of Soluble and Insoluble Huntingtin Species07:08

Fractionation for Resolution of Soluble and Insoluble Huntingtin Species

Published on: February 27, 2018

10.1K
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

3.1K

Related Concept Videos

Parkinson's Disease: Treatment01:24

Parkinson's Disease: Treatment

Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
1.3K
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...
2.2K
Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions01:30

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions

Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that can manifest with various positive symptoms, including thought, movement, and behavior disorders. These symptoms significantly disrupt cognitive and motor functions, leading to profound effects on an individual's ability to engage with the world.
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes...
792
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment01:22

Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment

Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is pathologically identified by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. AD pharmacotherapy aims to manage cognitive symptoms, delay disease progression, and treat behavioral symptoms. The treatment is primarily symptomatic and palliative, with no definitive disease-modifying therapy available. Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne), are...
1.1K
Neural Regulation01:37

Neural Regulation

Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.
43.6K
Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia01:30

Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia indicate a reduction or absence of typical behaviors and emotional responses found in healthy individuals, while positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
748