University of Galway study investigates Huntington's Disease

THE UNIVERSITY of Galway have published a new study focused on better understanding Huntington’s disease.

Huntington’s disease is an inherited disease that causes the progressive death of nerve cells in the brain. It has a broad impact on a person's functional abilities and usually results in movement, cognitive and psychiatric problems.

Researchers have gained a greater understanding of the role inflammation plays in Huntington’s disease progression after conducting several investigations. The research will help identify potential therapeutic targets for treatment.

“With our society facing an ageing population, Huntington’s disease could become more common, with some patients showing low-grade, late-onset forms of the disease,” commented Professor Andrea Kwakowsky, the lead author of the study.

“Neuroinflammation is thought to cause cell loss, and cell loss in the cingulate cortex – a brain region that links emotion, cognition, memory and motor function – linked to Huntington’s disease mood symptoms.

“However, the presence of neuroinflammation in Huntington’s disease of the midcingulate cortex, which manages emotion regulation, has not yet been investigated.”

The study was published in the journal Communications Medicine.