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Revisiting the neuropsychiatry of Huntington's disease

Antonio Lucio Teixeira1,2, Leonardo Cruz de Souza1, Natalia Pessoa Rocha1,2

  • 1Laboratorio Interdisciplinar de Investigação Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.

Dementia & Neuropsychologia
|December 8, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor, cognitive, and behavioral functions. This review focuses on the dynamic cognitive and psychiatric symptoms, crucial for managing patient care.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder.
  • HD is characterized by motor symptoms (chorea) but also significant cognitive and behavioral impairments.
  • These non-motor symptoms impact daily functioning and disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a focused and updated review of the cognitive and psychiatric features of Huntington's disease.
  • To highlight the dynamic nature of these symptoms and their progression.
  • To inform clinical understanding and management strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on Huntington's disease.
  • Synthesis of findings on cognitive deficits and psychiatric manifestations.
  • Analysis of the relationship between neurodegeneration and symptom progression.

Main Results:

  • Cognitive impairment, including executive dysfunction, is a core feature of HD.
  • Neuropsychiatric symptoms such as apathy, depression, and irritability are common and dynamic.
  • These symptoms evolve alongside neurodegeneration, significantly affecting quality of life.

Conclusions:

  • Cognitive and psychiatric symptoms are integral to the Huntington's disease phenotype.
  • Understanding these features is essential for comprehensive patient care and therapeutic development.
  • Further research is needed to address the complex clinical challenges posed by these symptoms.

Keywords:
Huntington's diseasebehaviorcognitionneuropsychiatry

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