[Clinical and neuropsychological characteristics of Huntington's disease: a review]

Rev Neurol. 2003 Oct;37(8):758-65.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Introduction: Huntington's disease is a dominant autosomic neurodegenerative disorder. This article's objective is to provide an up-to-date description of the clinical and neuropsychological manifestations over the course of the disease.

Method: According to clinical studies, the main characteristics of Huntington's disease include motor deficits, psychiatric problems and cognitive deficits. Many investigations have shown that a fronto-subcortical circuit dysfunction is responsible for these deficits. As the disease progresses, patients tend to have more cognitive difficulties which include attention/concentration problems, slowed cognitive processing, memory and language deficits, visuo-spatial problems and executive functioning difficulties.

Conclusion: Studies with asymptomatic carriers of Huntington's disease have shown that cognitive deterioration may begin long before a clinical diagnosis of the disease is possible.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology
  • Cognition Disorders / physiopathology
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Huntington Disease / diagnosis
  • Huntington Disease / genetics
  • Huntington Disease / pathology
  • Huntington Disease / physiopathology*
  • Language Disorders / physiopathology
  • Memory Disorders / physiopathology