Margarida Maia, PhD, science writer —

Margarida is a biochemist (University of Porto, Portugal) with a PhD in biomedical sciences (VIB and KULeuven, Belgium). Her main interest is science communication. She is also passionate about design and the dialogue between art and science.

Articles by Margarida Maia

No chorea in Huntington’s linked to fewer CAG repeats in HTT gene

People carrying fewer Huntington’s disease-causing CAG repeats in the HTT gene — who traditionally are thought to have milder disease — show similar cognitive deficits to those with more CAG repeats, a study found. However, patients with fewer repeats are less likely to show Huntington’s characteristic involuntary muscle contractions,…

Calcium channel blockers may speed Huntington’s in those at risk

Huntington’s disease could develop at earlier ages in people using calcium channel blockers to control hypertension, a study that looked into genes encoding targets of blood pressure-lowering medications reported. Findings may have important implications for managing high blood pressure in people at risk of Huntington’s, identified before disease…

Computer-based test shows promise in tracking cognitive decline

A computer-based test called SelfCog, which tests various cognitive functions in a standardized manner, yielded promising results in assessing cognitive decline in people with early-stage Huntington’s disease, a study has found. SelfCog demonstrated sensitivity to detect cognitive decline over a one-year follow-up, outperforming traditional cognitive assessments, and showed associations…

HDSA awards over $2M in grants to Center of Excellence network

The Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) is awarding 56 grants totaling more than $2 million to expand its Centers of Excellence network, which is dedicated to providing comprehensive care to people with Huntington’s disease. Dartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire joins last year’s total of 55 grant-funded Centers of Excellence. The…

KINECT-HD2 Study of Oral Valbenazine for Chorea Enrolling

The Huntington Study Group is seeking 30 patients to join KINECT-HD2, an open-label study of oral valbenazine capsules for chorea, or jerky involuntary movements, in Huntington’s disease, a press release states. KINECT-HD2 is an extension study of KINECT-HD (NCT04102579), a Phase 3 clinical trial that tested…