José Lopes, PhD, managing science editor —

Blocking specific glutamate receptors was seen to improve cellular, motor, and cognitive skills in a mouse model of Huntington’s disease. The study, “mGluR5 antagonism increases autophagy and prevents disease progression in the zQ175 mouse model of Huntington’s disease,” appeared in the journal Science Signaling. Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter…

Exercise and physical activity may benefit patients with Huntington’s disease (HD), a new review study shows. The study, “Physical Therapy and Exercise Interventions in Huntington’s Disease: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review,” appeared in the Journal of Huntington’s Disease. Significant research shows that exercise and physical therapy improve the…

Huntington’s disease (HD) patients respond to endurance training much like anyone else, by increasing muscular energy metabolism, say Swiss researchers who suggest such training might help delay muscular dysfunction in patients. Their study, “Effects of endurance training on skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in Huntington disease patients,” appeared in the…

Researchers have found that bexarotene, an existing, approved drug used to treat cancer, may also be an effective therapy for Huntington’s disease. The study, “PPARδ activation by bexarotene promotes neuroprotection by restoring bioenergetic and quality control homeostasis,” appeared in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Researchers used…

uniQure recently showed that its gene therapy candidate AMT-130 improves motor coordination and survival in mouse models of Huntington’s disease (HD). The preclinical study results were presented at the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT) 25th Anniversary Congress, held Oct. 17-20 in Berlin, Germany. The…