Open AccessThe Neurodevelopmental Hypothesis of Huntington’s Disease
Author(s) -
Ellen van der Plas,
Jordan L. Schultz,
Peg Nopoulos
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of huntington's disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.081
H-Index - 24
eISSN - 1879-6400
pISSN - 1879-6397
DOI - 10.3233/jhd-200394
Subject(s) - huntington's disease , neurodegeneration , neuroscience , disease , brain development , psychology , striatum , loss function , brain structure and function , biology , neuroimaging , medicine , genetics , gene , pathology , phenotype , dopamine
The current dogma of HD pathoetiology posits it is a degenerative disease affecting primarily the striatum, caused by a gain of function (toxicity) of the mutant mHTT that kills neurons. However, a growing body of evidence supports an alternative theory in which loss of function may also influence the pathology.This theory is predicated on the notion that HTT is known to be a vital gene for brain development. mHTT is expressed throughout life and could conceivably have deleterious effects on brain development. The end event in the disease is, of course, neurodegeneration; however the process by which that occurs may be rooted in the pathophysiology of aberrant development.To date, there have been multiple studies evaluating molecular and cellular mechanisms of abnormal development in HD, as well as studies investigating abnormal brain development in HD animal models. However, direct study of how mHTT could affect neurodevelopment in humans has not been approached until recent years. The current review will focus on the most recent findings of a unique study of children at-risk for HD, the Kids-HD study. This study evaluates brain structure and function in children ages 6-18 years old who are at risk for HD (have a parent or grand-parent with HD).