Mental health problems are common in Huntington’s disease, but there isn’t much data on patients’ use of psychiatric medications, a review study reports. “Although [neuropsychiatric problems] in [Huntington’s disease] are common, hardly any clinical trials have addressed their treatment,” the study’s researchers wrote. “As a result, evidence that…

A history of high alcohol intake seems to be linked to increased motor impairment and a higher burden of psychiatric symptoms in Huntington’s disease patients, a large international study suggests. The observational study, “Genetic and Environmental Contributors to Neurodegeneration: An Exploration of the Effects of Alcohol…

Higher-than-normal levels of mu-opioid receptor 1 (MOR1) in the striatum — a brain region particularly affected in Huntington’s disease — may contribute to both early psychiatric symptoms and late motor difficulties seen in Huntington’s patients, according to a study in a mouse model of the disease. The data also…

Rexulti (brexpiprazole), an antipsychotic medicine approved for schizophrenia and in some cases depression, eases motor and psychiatric symptoms of Huntington’s disease, according to a case study. The study, “Effectiveness of Brexpiprazole in the Treatment in a Patient with Huntington’s Disease,” was published in the…

Psychiatric and cognitive symptoms in Huntington’s disease share genetic traits with psychiatric disorders and intelligence, respectively, according to a study. These findings suggest that current treatments used for depression and psychotic symptoms in the overall population may also be able to treat these symptoms in Huntington’s patients. The…

People with Huntington’s disease may have two different symptom profiles, a cognitive-motor and a psychiatric profile, associated with different clinical and neurobiological features. The findings of the study, “Specific patterns of brain alterations underlie distinct clinical profiles in Huntington’s disease,” were published in NeuroImage: Clinical. Huntington’s…

My grandmother died from Huntington’s disease (HD) complications in 1987. I was 13 years old at the time, so my memories of her are few and limited to a time in her journey when she was more advanced in her symptoms. I have no personal recollections of what she…

Suppressing the expression of the defective huntingtin gene using antisense oligonucleotides lowered anxiety-like behavior in a mouse model of Huntington’s disease, a study reports. These compounds were also efficiently delivered into the brains of nonhuman primates and targeted specific areas involved in cognition and psychiatric function. This study, “…

Changes in brain volume are linked to both movement problems and cognitive decline in people with huntingtin mutations who have not yet received a Huntington’s disease diagnosis, according to a new report. The study not only offers insights into how the neurodegeneration in Huntington’s affects the emergence of various symptoms,…

A recent review summarizes the scientific literature on behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of Huntington’s disease, noting that plenty of research is still needed to better understand and treat such symptoms, which traditionally have taken second stage to the disease’s movement problems. The review, “Changes in mental state…