Neurobiological Predictors of Huntington’s Disease (PREDICT-HD)

The purpose of this trial is to study early brain and behavioral changes in people who have the gene expansion for Huntington’s disease, but are currently healthy and have no symptoms.

Official Title

Neurobiological Predictors of Huntington’s Disease Trial

Conditions

Huntington Disease

Study Type

Observational

Study Design

Natural History

Further Details

Further study details as provided by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS):

Huntington’s Disease (HD) is an inherited disease that causes changes in a person’s ability to control movements, thinking, and feelings. The intent of this study is to learn more about the beginning changes in thinking skills, emotional regulation, and brain structure and function as a person begins the transition from health to HD.

Preliminary studies indicate that people with HD may have marked decline before an actual diagnosis. This study will help reveal the earliest indicators of the disease and what factors influence the age at which a person carrying the gene develops the disease. It is necessary to get information on the early stages of HD in order to develop drugs that can slow or postpone the onset of HD. The investigators hope this study will provide essential information for future trials of experimental drugs for HD.

During this 4-year study, participants will undergo several detailed tests, including MRI scans of the brain, cognitive assessments, physical exams, and neurological and psychiatric testing.

Study Start

August 2002

Eligibility & Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years and above
Genders Eligible for Study: Both

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women at risk for HD, who have been tested for the HD gene mutation, and who have not been diagnosed with symptoms of HD (CAG >39 for CAG-expanded group or CAG <30 for CAG-norm group).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of manifest HD (at least 50% confidence by neurologist that symptoms are present);
• Clinical evidence of unstable medical or psychiatric illness; history of mental retardation;
• History of other CNS disease or event (e.g., seizures or head trauma);
• Current or previous treatment with antipsychotic medications, including the traditional neuroleptics such as haloperidol as well as the atypical antipsychotics risperidone, clozapine, quetiapine, and olanzapine;
• Treatment with phenothiazine-derivative antiemetic medications such as prochlorperazine, metoclopramide, promethazine, and Inapsine on a regular basis (greater than 3 times per month);
• Pacemaker or metallic implants.

Total Enrolment

990

Contact Details

New South Wales
Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Recruiting
Jane Griffith 011-61-2-98456793
Victoria
The University of Melbourne – St. George’s Health Service, Melbourne, Australia; Recruiting
Olga Yastrubetskaya 61 3 9272 0436
The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Recruiting
Angela Komiti 61 3 8344 5510
Western Australia
The Mount Medical Centre, Perth, Australia; Recruiting
Mark Woodman 0893476464