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Abstract

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the brain, leading to a wide array of motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of HD, including its pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and current therapeutic approaches. HD is caused by an expansion of CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene (HTT), leading to the production of mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT), which aggregates and exerts toxic effects on neurons. The clinical presentation of HD is characterized by chorea, cognitive decline, and psychiatric disturbances, with symptoms typically manifesting in the third to fifth decades of life. However, juvenile-onset HD can also occur, presenting with earlier onset and more rapid disease progression. Currently, there is no cure for HD, and available treatments aim to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. These include pharmacological interventions, such as dopamine-depleting agents and neuroprotective compounds, as well as non-pharmacological approaches, such as physical therapy and supportive care. Emerging therapeutic strategies, such as gene silencing and stem cell therapy, offer promising avenues for disease modification and potential disease reversal. However, further research is needed to optimize these treatments and ultimately find a cure for HD. This review provides a comprehensive summary of our current understanding of HD and highlights the ongoing efforts to develop effective therapies for this devastating disorder.