Neurobiological Predictors of Huntington's Disease (PREDICT-HD)
Summary
The purpose of this trial is to study early brain and behavioral changes in people who have the gene expansion for Huntington's disease, but are currently healthy and have no symptoms.
Description
Huntington's Disease (HD) is an inherited disease that causes changes in a person's ability to control movements, thinking, and feelings. The intent of this study is to learn more about the beginning changes in thinking skills, emotional regulation, and brain structure and function as a person begins the transition from health to HD.
Preliminary studies indicate that people with HD may have marked decline before an actual diagnosis. This study will help reveal the earliest indicators of the disease and what factors influence the age at which a person carrying the gene develops the disease. It is necessary to get information on the early stages of HD in order to develop drugs that can slow or postpone the onset of HD. The investigators hope this study will provide essential information for future trials of experimental drugs for HD.
During this 4-year study, participants will undergo several detailed tests, including MRI scans of the brain, cognitive assessments, physical exams, and neurological and psychiatric testing.
Study Design
Observational Model: Cohort, Time Perspective: Prospective
Conditions
Huntington Disease
Location
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles
California
United States
Status
Recruiting
Source
University of Iowa
Results (where available)
Links
- Source: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00051324
- Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on July 15, 2010
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Haloperidol
A phenyl-piperidinyl-butyrophenone that is used primarily to treat SCHIZOPHRENIA and other PSYCHOSES. It is also used in schizoaffective disorder, DELUSIONAL DISORDERS, ballism, and TOURETTE SYNDROME (a drug of choice) and occasionally as adjunctive therapy in MENTAL RETARDATION and the chorea of HUNTINGTON DISEASE. It is a potent antiemetic and is used in the treatment of intractable HICCUPS. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p279)
Huntington Disease
A familial disorder inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and characterized by the onset of progressive CHOREA and DEMENTIA in the fourth or fifth decade of life. Common initial manifestations include paranoia; poor impulse control; DEPRESSION; HALLUCINATIONS; and DELUSIONS. Eventually intellectual impairment; loss of fine motor control; ATHETOSIS; and diffuse chorea involving axial and limb musculature develops, leading to a vegetative state within 10-15 years of disease onset. The juvenile variant has a more fulminant course including SEIZURES; ATAXIA; dementia; and chorea. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1060-4)
Disease Reservoirs
Animate or inanimate sources which normally harbor disease-causing organisms and thus serve as potential sources of disease outbreaks. Reservoirs are distinguished from vectors (DISEASE VECTORS) and carriers, which are agents of disease transmission rather than continuing sources of potential disease outbreaks.
Clinical Enzyme Tests
Analyses for a specific enzyme activity, or of the level of a specific enzyme that is used to assess health and disease risk, for early detection of disease or disease prediction, diagnosis, and change in disease status.
Disease Progression
The worsening of a disease over time. This concept is most often used for chronic and incurable diseases where the stage of the disease is an important determinant of therapy and prognosis.
Clinical Trials
Safety Study of the Novel Drug Dimebon to Treat Patients With Huntington's Disease
This study is being conducted to determine the safety and tolerability of Dimebon in people with Huntington's disease after short-term exposure (one week) and after longer exposure (three...
Prospective Huntington At Risk Observational Study
The purpose of this study is to define the natural history and experiences of people who are at risk for developing Huntington's disease but who do not know their genetic status.
A Safety and Efficacy Study of Dimebon in Patients With Huntington Disease
The purpose of this study is to determine if Dimebon is safe and effective for the treatment of cognitive impairment in Huntington disease.
A Study of the Novel Drug Dimebon in Patients With Huntington's Disease
This study will evaluate the safety of 3 months of Dimebon dosing and the efficacy of Dimebon in improving cognitive, motor, and overall function in subjects with Huntington's Disease.
Study of Memantine to Treat Huntington's Disease
To determine if memantine in doses of 10 mg BID affects memory, cognition, and behavior in patients with Huntington's disease (HD).
PubMed Articles
Family history in juvenile Huntington disease: Do the signs point to "yes" or "very doubtful"?
Juvenile Huntington disease (JHD)-Huntington disease (HD) with an onset ≤20 years-accounts for approximately 10% of all HD cases. Like the adult form of the disorder, JHD is a hereditary neurodegene...
Neurodegenerative diseases, exemplified by Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease, are characterized by progressive neuropsychiatric dysfunction and loss of specific neuronal subtypes. Although...
Intense dopamine innervation of the subventricular zone in Huntington's disease.
Dopamine exerts a robust promoting effect on adult neurogenesis. Here, we report the presence of an intense dopamine (tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive) zone along the ventricular border of the caud...
Increased levels of hemoglobin and alpha1-microglobulin in Huntington's disease.
Hemoglobin released from damaged erythrocytes is a major pro-oxidant, generator of free radicals and inflammatory mediator. Huntington's disease is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterize...
The substantia nigra plays important roles in the brain function and is critical in the development of many diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease. Pathological changes of the substantia nigra hav...
