Therapeutic Strategies for Huntington's Disease

Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2015:22:161-201. doi: 10.1007/7854_2013_250.

Abstract

Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease, caused by expansion of the CAG repeat in the huntingtin (HTT) gene and characterized pathologically by the loss of pyramidal neurons in several cortical areas, of striatal medium spiny neurons, and of hypothalamic neurons. Clinically, a distinguishing feature of the disease is uncontrolled involuntary movements (chorea, dyskensias) accompanied by progressive cognitive, motor, and psychiatric impairment. This review focuses on the current state of therapeutic development for the treatment of HD, including the preclinical and clinical development of small molecules and molecular therapies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Huntingtin Protein
  • Huntington Disease / drug therapy*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • HTT protein, human
  • Huntingtin Protein
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins