Huntington´s disease (HD) is characterized by a progressive multisystem neuronal atrophy in the brain. Apart from motor signs, cognitive symptoms, particularly executive dysfunctions, are proposed to be recognizable in early stages of disease. The aim of the study was to clarify if cognitive dysfunction is correlated with loco-regional structural changes in 3D-MRI. 25 patients with genetically confirmed HD in early clinical stages were included in the study and underwent neuropsychological testing as well as MRI scans analyzed by voxel based morphmometry (VBM) in comparison to an age-matched control group. Executive dysfunction was significantly correlated with areas of highest sinificant differences out of VBM results which were located bilaterally in the caudate. Moreover, subgroup analyses revealed marked insular atrophy. Concluding you can say that striatal atrophy plays an important role not only in the impaired motor control but also in executive dysfunctions, and extrastriatal areas i.e. the insular lobe, seemed to be involved in executive functions.
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Huntington´s disease (HD) is characterized by a progressive multisystem neuronal atrophy in the brain. Apart from motor signs, cognitive symptoms, particularly executive dysfunctions, are proposed to be recognizable in early stages of disease. The aim of the study was to clarify if cognitive dysfunction is correlated with loco-regional structural changes in 3D-MRI. 25 patients with genetically confirmed HD in early clinical stages were included in the study and underwent neuropsychological testi...
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