What is Huntington's Disease?

Huntington's disease is an inherited disease that causes nerve cells in the brain to stop working properly. It is a progressive disease, meaning it continues to get worse over time, and leads to mental deterioration and loss of the ability to control major muscle movements. An American doctor, George Huntington, first described Huntingtons disease in 1872. It was commonly called Huntington's chorea from the Greek word for "dance," because of the jerky, almost dancelike, movements of people with the disease. The genetic abnormality that causes Huntington's disease was discovered in 1993. For information on causes, diagnosis, and resources click here.

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Photo: Though the so-called huntingtin mutation causes defects in many cells, it takes its greatest toll on the spiny neurons of the striatum.

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Research News

Featuring Harvard Medical School and Affiliated Hospitals

Animal study identifies potential treatment for Huntington's.

Study Identifies Novel Parkinson's Disease Drug Target Blocking enzyme activity may also reduce brain cell death in Huntington's, other disorders.

A possible mechanism for brain damage in Huntingtons disease is identified.

Potential Drug Target Identified Blocking enzyme action could protect against energy depletion in several disorders.

Fetal Transplant Takes Root in Huntingtons Patient Human fetal neurons sown into the brain of a man with Huntingtons disease survived 18 months after transplantation. Remarkably, the cells, taken from nine-week old fetuses, appeared to be untouched by the cellular destruction raging around them.

Research Stories

From the Harvard University Gazette

Brain Disease Slowed Fetal cells help Huntingtons patients.

Way To Delay Huntington's Disease Found Successful treatment occurred in mice with a human-like form of Huntingtons disease.

>More HU Gazette on Huntington's disease

Scientific Reports

From HMS Faculty Newsletter Focus

Probability Pegs Brain Activity

Small Molecule halts neurodegeneration in mouse model of Huntington’s.

Spurring Protein Breakdown halts pathology.

Technique Begins to Decode Spiny Signaling Detailed findings come from a new microscope.

Huntingtons Defects Manifest far from Damaged Brain Tissue.

Common antibiotic may Slow Huntingtons Disease.

Brain Takes Similar Approach to Bodily, Facial Expressions.
Study of brain's recognition of faces, evolves into studies focusing on treatment's of brain disease like Huntingtons.

>More Research Reports