A Genetic Lottery - a Column by Becky Field

Huntington’s Patients Often Also Suffer from Psychiatric Disorders

Psychiatric manifestations develop more often than previously thought in Huntington’s disease prodrome, according to findings of a recent study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry. Moreover, it appears that symptoms also increase with disease severity. Early features of Huntington’s disease can include personality changes, mood swings,…

Huntingtin Protein Study Offers New Insights into Mystery of Huntington’s Disease

University of Buffalo researchers have discovered that Huntingtin protein (Htt) is involved in the transport of Rab proteins, which are essential for normal cell function, a discovery that might lead to a greater understanding of the mechanisms behind Huntington’s disease. The research paper entitled “Huntingtin differentially regulates the axonal transport of a sub-set…

Houston Methodist Calls Attention to Movement Disorders

While moving is normal to healthy people, making even the smallest movements may seem a difficult task for those who suffer from movement disorders such as Huntington’s disease. The Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is spreading awareness about these types of conditions and their proper treatment, the importance of seeking professional help…

Cloud Pharmaceuticals and THERAMetrics Partner to Develop Treatments for Orphan CNS Diseases

Cloud-based drug design and development company, Cloud Pharmaceuticals, Inc., recently announced it has signed with THERAMetrics holding AG to collaborate on breakthrough treatments for orphan central nervous system (CNS) diseases and other indications. This strategic collaboration has as its primary points of interest Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), progressive supranuclear palsy…

Psychiatric Symptoms May Delay Huntington’s Disease Diagnosis

In a new study entitled “Delayed identification and diagnosis of Huntington’s disease due to psychiatric symptoms” researchers present a case study of a female patient with 58 years old diagnosed with Huntington’s disease as a consequence of psychiatric symptoms prior to motor symptoms. The study was published in the International…

Highly Sensitive Assay for mHTT Predicts Huntington’s Disease

Tapping into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with Huntington’s disease may give insights on disease onset, diminished functional ability and potential therapeutic agents for treatment. A recent study investigated whether huntingtin (HTT) protein could be detected in CSF, and the research team behind the investigation created an assay with…