Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 5, 2025
09:06
Whole-brain Segmentation and Change-point Analysis of Anatomical Brain MRI—Application in Premanifest Huntington's Disease
Published on: June 9, 2018
12.4K
Tracking Huntington's Disease Progression Using Motor, Functional, Cognitive, and Imaging Markers
Pubu M Abeyasinghe1, Jeffrey D Long2,3, Adeel Razi1,4,5
1School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Summary
Huntington's disease progression can be tracked using brain imaging, specifically caudate and putamen volumes. These imaging markers may improve clinical trial design and serve as sensitive endpoints.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Huntington's disease (HD) research has advanced, yet improved participant selection is needed for clinical trials.
- Characterizing HD progression across disease stages is crucial for enhancing trial outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate longitudinal disease trajectories in Huntington's disease progression groups.
- To identify optimal markers for tracking HD progression.
Main Methods:
- Combined clinical and imaging data from 1082 participants across three HD studies (IMAGE-HD, TRACK-HD, PREDICT-HD).
- Classified participants into four groups based on CAG repeat number and age product.
- Employed multivariate linear mixed modeling to test marker sensitivity and track progression.
Main Results:
- Putamen and caudate volumes were the most effective markers for differentiating HD groups and tracking progression.
- Caudate volume alone best characterized advanced HD progression in the combined dataset.
- Integrating clinical markers with volumetric measures did not enhance longitudinal tracking.
Conclusions:
- Volumetric changes in the brain, particularly caudate volume, can serve as sensitive endpoints in Huntington's disease clinical trials.
- Monitoring imaging markers alongside clinical outcomes offers a more comprehensive understanding of treatment effects.
- Imaging endpoints may improve the design and sensitivity of future HD clinical trials.
