News

What do people with Huntington’s disease, obsessive compulsive disorder, and ADHD have in common? The answer is the basal ganglia, a brain region that controls movement. Recent research suggests a new model for how this region initiates and sustains movement, showing that two pathways, previously thought mutually exclusive, can actually…

Scientists at Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University have shown that transgenic monkeys for Huntington’s disease exhibit early emergent symptoms, like humans with the disease, which bolsters the idea that monkeys could be effective animal models for developing therapies. The study, “Increased irritability, anxiety, and immune reactivity in transgenic Huntington’s disease monkeys,”…

Edward J. Wild, of the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, London, has a unique perspective on Huntington’s disease (HD). He believes the currently incurable neurological condition is ideal for certain treatment, based on the clear and universal cause of the disease. Wild elaborated on his conviction in a recent article…

Using roundworms to screen chemicals that increase lifespan may improve knowledge on diseases related to aging such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, or cancer, according to initial findings recently revealed at the The Allied Genetics Conference in Orlando, Florida. In a new consortium called the Caenorhabditis Intervention Testing Program (CITP), funded by the National Institute on…

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) report they’ve identified a novel compound that could be a potential therapy strategy for Huntington’s disease, protecting nerve cells from death in both cultured cells and animal models of the disease. The study, “SIRT2- and NRF2-Targeting Thiazole-Containing Compound with Therapeutic Activity in…

Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Boston University have developed a system capable of rapidly analyzing protein aggregation, a hallmark of Huntington’s disease, and opening new possibilities in exploring both the causes of protein accumulation and the potential of new drugs to counteract it. The method,…

Results from a Phase 3 clinical trial found that deutetrabenazine (SD-809), an investigational drug developed by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, improved chorea among Huntington’s disease patients. But the researchers caution that more studies are needed to ascertain the treatment’s long-term effectiveness and safety. Data from the trial showing that the drug improved swallowing…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to WAVE Life Sciences‘ lead candidate WVE-120101, which is being developed for the treatment of Huntington’s disease (HD). “Each potential new therapy for Huntington’s disease gives fresh hope to the more than 30,000 Americans symptomatic with HD and…

Gene therapy using mesenchymal stem cells for Huntington’s disease is showing promise in mouse studies, and preparations are underway to possibly move it into clinical testing. Before the technique might be ready for human trials, however, scientists need to master a few more steps, using larger animal models to investigate the therapy’s…

Monitoring respiratory function in Huntington’s disease (HD) from the middle stage of the disease may help prevent respiratory failure according to research. In addition, regular breathing exercises may improve the function of breathing muscles and cough effectiveness.