Huntington Study Group's Neuropsychology Working Group: Implementing Non-Motor Diagnostic Criteria

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuropsychology
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Current Huntington's disease (HD) diagnosis relies heavily on motor signs, risking delayed or inaccurate diagnoses.
• Cognitive and behavioral changes often precede motor symptoms by up to 15 years.
• Clinical neuropsychologists play a key role in applying new non-motor diagnostic criteria for HD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To recommend a clinical approach for diagnosing HD using non-motor criteria.
• To establish best practices for screening and monitoring non-motor symptoms in HD patients.

Main Methods:

• A multi-disciplinary group of experts (neuropsychologists, neurologists, psychiatrists) was assembled.
• An unstructured literature review and expert opinion discussion were conducted.
• An informal consensus was reached to guide clinical practice.

Main Results:

• A consensus opinion and an example protocol for screening, monitoring, and triaging non-motor signs of HD were developed.
• The protocol is designed for medical treatment providers.

Conclusions:

• Diagnosing non-motor aspects of HD is empirically supported and clinically significant.
• Non-neuropsychologist clinicians can effectively screen and monitor non-motor manifestations of HD.
• This consensus improves clinical practice, research, and patient quality of life.