Early Biomarkers in Premanifest Huntington's Disease Gene Carriers: a Pilot Study

Launched by UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, GRENOBLE · Oct 1, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking to find early signs of Huntington's disease in people who carry the gene for the condition but haven't shown any symptoms yet. The researchers want to see if advanced brain scans (called functional MRI) and a special gait study using virtual reality can spot these early signs in gene carriers compared to healthy individuals. By doing this, they hope to identify new ways to detect the disease before symptoms occur, which could help in future treatments.

To participate in the study, individuals must be between 18 and 70 years old. Those with a confirmed Huntington's disease diagnosis (based on genetic testing) and mild motor symptoms are eligible, as are healthy participants with normal neurological exams. Participants will undergo brain scans and gait assessments, and they'll receive support from the research team throughout the study. It's important to note that people with serious eye or mental health issues, cognitive impairment, or certain walking problems may not qualify for the study.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. For PMGC: HD diagnosis confirmed by genetic testing (CAG triplets ≥36 in HTT gene); Unified Huntington Disease Rating Scale19 Total Motor Score (UHDRS-TMS) ≤ 5; age 18-70 years old. 2. For HC: normal neurological examination; age 18-70 years old.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Main exclusion criteria for both PMGC and HS will be: major ophthalmologic and psychiatric active diseases; cognitive impairment (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA score \< 25/30); gait issues related to non-neurological conditions; contraindications to brain MRI.