Cognitive and motor functioning in gene carriers for Huntington's disease: a baseline study.
The aim of this study was to investigate the first changes in cognitive and motor functioning in Huntington's disease. Forty-six gene carriers, not clinically diagnosed for HD, were compared with 88 non-gene carriers. Gene carriers performed significantly worse on the Benton Visual Retention Test. This result was due to a minority of participants who had already developed cognitive impairment. Marginal differences appeared on the motor times of single reaction time measures after correction for motor signs. The findings are discussed in the context of inconsistencies in previous studies and underscore the need for longitudinal research.
Witjes-Ané
Marie-Noëlle W
MN
Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Leiden, The Netherlands. m.n.w.witjes-ane@lumc.nl
Vegter-van der Vlis
Maria
M
van Vugt
Jeroen P P
JP
Lanser
Jan B K
JB
Hermans
Jo
J
Zwinderman
Aeilko H
AH
van Ommen
Gert-Jan B
GJ
Roos
Raymund A C
RA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology