Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 24, 2025

Efficient and Scalable Production of Full-length Human Huntingtin Variants in Mammalian Cells using a Transient Expression System
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Natural history and burden of Huntington's disease in the UK: A population-based cohort study

Hannah Furby1, Athanasios Siadimas2, Loes Rutten-Jacobs2

  • 1Roche Products Ltd, Welwyn Garden City, UK.

European Journal of Neurology
|May 6, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Huntington's disease (HD) prevalence increased from 2000-2018. Individuals with HD face a significantly higher clinical burden, including psychiatric diagnoses and a four-fold increased mortality risk, with a median survival of 12 years.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Epidemiology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Huntington's disease (HD) is a rare, progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
  • HD significantly impacts patients, families, and healthcare systems due to diverse symptoms.
  • Understanding the epidemiology and clinical burden of HD is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the epidemiology of Huntington's disease.
  • To quantify the clinical burden in individuals with HD compared to the general population.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized general practitioner medical records for a cohort study (2000-2018).
  • Matched incident HD cases (1:3) with general population controls.
  • Compared diagnoses, medications, and healthcare interventions post-diagnosis and near death.

Main Results:

  • HD prevalence increased, while incidence remained stable between 2000-2018.
  • HD cases showed higher rates of psychiatric diagnoses and treatments.
  • Increased risks for psychotic disorders, depression, dementia, falls, and mortality (4x higher) were observed in HD patients, with median survival of ~12 years.

Conclusions:

  • This study highlights the substantial and progressive clinical burden associated with Huntington's disease.
  • The findings underscore the long-term impact of HD on patient health and healthcare utilization.
Abstract

Keywords:
Huntington's diseasecomorbidityincidencemortalityprevalence

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