News

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…

Full Phase 3 trial data: Valbenazine eases chorea in Huntington’s

The oral therapy valbenazine significantly reduces involuntary muscle contractions, or chorea, and patient-reported disease burden in people with Huntington’s disease, according to results from the Phase 3 KINECT-HD clinical trial. Top-line data were announced by Neurocrine Biosciences, the therapy’s manufacturer, in 2021. The full findings have…

Huntington’s patients in US have new option of Austedo XR

Austedo XR, an extended-release oral formulation of Austedo (deutetrabenazine), is now commercially available in the U.S. as a treatment for adults with chorea, or uncontrolled muscle contractions, associated with Huntington’s disease. The new formulation is available in tablet strengths of 6 mg, 12 mg, and 24 mg,…