News

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,…

Rutgers Awarded $6M Grant to Manage NINDS Stem Cell Repository

The Rutgers’ Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, home to RUCDR Infinite Biologics — the world’s largest university-based biorepository — announced it has received a five-year grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). The $6 million funding will allow Rutgers to assume management of the NINDS stem cell repository,…

Huntington’s Disease ‘Gene Silencing’ Drug Given to First Human Patients

October 19, 2015, marks a historical day in the treatment of Huntington’s Disease. At University College London Hospitals, patients afflicted with the degenerative neurological condition that day received an innovative new “gene silencing” drug. There is great hope that this drug will revolutionize the treatment of this destructive disease, for which there is currently…

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…

Anti-Epileptic Drug Shows Potential in Neurodegenerative Diseases

In a new study titled “Ethosuximide ameliorates neurodegenerative disease phenotypes by modulating DAF-16/FOXO target gene expression”, published in Molecular Neurodegeneration, researchers have discovered that ethosuximide, a commonly prescribed anti-epileptic drug, has protective and potential therapeutic effects for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s. To investigate the…

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…