Progression of structural neuropathology in preclinical Huntington's disease: a tensor based morphometry study.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Regional cerebral atrophy occurs in carriers of the Huntington's disease (HD) gene mutation before clinical diagnosis is possible. The current inability to reliably measure progression of pathology in this preclinical phase impedes development of therapies to delay clinical onset. We hypothesised that longitudinal statistical imaging would detect progression of structural pathology in preclinical carriers of the HD gene mutation, in the absence of measurable clinical change.

Methods

Thirty subjects (17 preclinical mutation positive, 13 mutation negative) underwent serial clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessments over an interval of 2 years. Statistically significant changes in regional grey and white matter volume on MRI were analyse

SUBMITTER: Kipps CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1739615 | biostudies-literature | 2005 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature