Year: 2024
Type: conference-paper
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction Cognitive alteration in Huntington disease starts in the pre-symptomatic stages and progressively worsens over time. Aims To investigate the alteration and relevance of memory impairment in Huntington disease. Methods We included a cohort of 21 symptomatic HD patients, stage 3 (Tabrizi 2022) and TFC >= 9 and 9 pre-symptomatic HD subjects (Migliore 2024). The cognitive domains were analysed using the ENROLL protocol: Verbal Fluency Test (Category, Letters (VFTc, VFTl)), Stroop Color Reading Test (SCR), Stroop Word Reading Test (SWR) and The Symbol Digit Modality Test (SDMT). To explore memory function we administered the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT- Rey’s 15 Words Test). Motor function was described by UHDRS Total Motor Score and subitems (Reilman 2017). In symptomatic patients we then analysed the correlation between cognitive tests and motor performances. Results We found a significant inverse correlation between memory score at immediate and delayed recall of Rey’s 15 Words Test, and the Total Motor Score (-0,65, -0,57) and some of its specific subitems (naimly chorea-0,51, dystonia-0,74 – -0,69, eye -0,51, oropharyngeal-0,51, -0,53). Symbol digit, SWR and SCR were negatively correlated as well. Moreover, all the mentioned tests resulted positively related to TFC. Among the motor domains the ‘gait and balance’ correlated with the VFTl. Interestingly, while the 9 premanifest individuals presented normal performance at SDMT, SCR and SWR, two of them resulted impaired at RAVLT scores. Conclusion Memory impairment is associated with the severity of motor dysfunctions and Rey’s 15 Words Test could be used to monitor the rate of disease progression and to detect early alterations in pre-symptomatic subjects.
Language: English
Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4402374430