What
is Huntingtons Disease (Chorea)?
Huntingtons
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
Huntingtons disease was discovered in 1993.
For
information on causes, diagnosis, and resources click here.
Photo:
Though the so-called huntingtin mutation causes defects in
many cells, it takes its greatest toll on the spiny neurons
of the striatum.
|
Research News
Featuring Harvard Medical School and Affiliated Hospitals
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 StoriesFrom 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 Huntingtons Disease
|
Scientific Reports
From HMS Faculty Newsletter Focus
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
|
Harvard Center for Neurogeneration and Repair (HCNR)
