Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 2, 2025

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
04:33

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression

Published on: April 26, 2024

748

A systematic review and meta-analysis of depression and apathy frequency in adult-onset Huntington's disease

Melanie L Clark1, Julie Abimanyi-Ochom2, Ha Le2

  • 1Deakin University, Deakin Health Economics, School of Health and Social Development, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia; Neurosciences Unit, North Metropolitan Health Services Mental Health Public Health Dental Services, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|April 13, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Depression and apathy are common in Huntington's disease (HD), affecting 38% and 40% of individuals, respectively. Gene-positive individuals showed higher rates, with apathy slightly more prevalent than depression.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Depression and apathy significantly impact functional capacity in Huntington's disease (HD).
  • The precise frequency of these conditions in HD populations remains largely unquantified.
  • Understanding these frequencies is crucial for comprehensive patient care and management strategies.

Approach:

  • A systematic literature search was performed across 21 databases up to June 2021.
  • Meta-analyses utilized clinician-rated assessments for depression and apathy in adult-onset HD.
  • The analysis included individuals from HD-affected families and gene-positive HD patients.

Key Points:

  • Lifetime prevalence of depression in adults affected by or at-risk for HD was 38%.
  • Lifetime prevalence of apathy in adults affected by or at-risk for HD was 40%.
  • In gene-positive individuals, apathy (48%) was slightly more common than depression (43%).

Conclusions:

  • Depression and apathy are highly prevalent in individuals with Huntington's disease.
  • Apathy appears to be marginally more common than depression in gene-positive HD patients.
  • Further research differentiating juvenile-onset and adult-onset HD cohorts is recommended to refine phenotypic profiles.

Keywords:
Adult-onsetApathyDepressionHuntington’s diseaseMeta-analysis

More Related Videos

Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model CDM05:47

Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model CDM

Published on: September 23, 2021

7.4K
A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats07:57

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats

Published on: February 22, 2018

21.0K

Related Concept Videos

Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia01:27

Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia

Depressive disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by pervasive feelings of sadness, diminished pleasure in life, and a significant impact on daily functioning. These conditions are most prevalent in individuals during their 30s and affect women at twice the rate of men. Contrary to popular belief, younger individuals are generally more susceptible to these disorders than older adults. Two key types of depressive disorders include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and...
182
Depressive Disorders: Etiology01:27

Depressive Disorders: Etiology

Depressive disorders result from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors, each contributing uniquely to the development and persistence of the condition. Understanding these factors provides critical insight into the multifaceted nature of depression.
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
147
Depression: Overview01:18

Depression: Overview

Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
301
Long-term Depression01:03

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
2.6K
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview01:26

Alzheimer's Disease: Overview

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
551
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
287