Therapy in Huntington's disease: where are we?

Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2012 Aug;12(4):359-66. doi: 10.1007/s11910-012-0277-4.

Abstract

As of 2012, almost 20 years after the discovery of the causative gene, clinical research has yet to find a disease-modifying treatment for Huntington's disease. However, both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies are available for many of the common symptoms of the disease. Recent studies of gene-positive patients in the prodromal, not clinically diagnosable, stages of the disease, are changing our perception of when the process of neurodegeneration begins. Once disease-modifying therapies become available, the approach to the diagnosis of Huntington's disease will likely shift from an examination-based clinical diagnosis, to one that includes a more complex combination of imaging, examination, and biomarker analysis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Huntington Disease* / classification
  • Huntington Disease* / diagnosis
  • Huntington Disease* / genetics
  • Huntington Disease* / therapy
  • Mental Disorders
  • Neurologic Examination