Home-based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Open Trial for Behavioral and Cognitive Symptoms...
Huntington DiseaseThe purpose of this study is to assess feasibility, acceptability, and safety of providing transcranial direct current stimulation( tDCS) to Huntingtons Disease (HD) patients in the early to middle stages and to assess the efficacy of tDCS for HD-related behavioral, cognitive and other symptoms
Measuring Cortisol Levels in Persons With Parkinson's (PD)
Parkinson DiseaseHuntington DiseaseThe objective of this study is to evaluate the cortisol awakening response with persons with Parkinsons Disease (PD), Huntingtons Disease (HD), and controls. These data are desired so experience can be gained with measuring stress levels subjectively and objectively in persons with PD, HD, and controls.
Retinal Imaging in Neurodegenerative Disease
Alzheimer's DiseaseMild Cognitive Impairment13 moreThis study aims to develop and evaluate biomarkers using non-invasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) as well as ultra-widefield (UWF) fundus photography to assess the structure and function of the retinal and choroidal microvasculature and structure in persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), or other neurodegenerative disease, diseases as outlined.
Neurobiological Predictors of Huntington's Disease (PREDICT-HD)
Huntington DiseaseThe 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.
Efficacy and Safety of NestaCell® in Huntington's Disease
Huntington DiseaseHuntington's disease (HD) is a rare neurodegenerative condition caused by increased CAG trinucleotide repeats in the HTT gene, on chromosome 4. The estimated global prevalence is 2.71 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In Brazil, it is estimated that 13,000 to 19,000 people carry the gene and 65,000 to 95,000 are descendants at risk. HD usually manifests itself in the fourth decade of life with motor, cognitive and behavioral symptoms, such as chorea. This condition profoundly affects quality of life and there is no treatment that can modify its course. Tetrabenazine is the only medication approved to control chorea. A partnership between the Butantan Institute and Cellavita investigates the use of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (hDPSCs) to treat HD. NestaCell® was developed, a product based on these cells, which express high levels of BDNF, an important neurotrophic factor for neuronal survival. Preclinical tests showed that NestaCell® is distributed to several organs, including the central nervous system, being well tolerated in toxicological tests in rats. In phase I (SAVE) and phase II (ADORE) clinical trials, NestaCell® was administered to patients with HD. The results indicated a significant improvement in motor scores and functional capacity compared to placebo, demonstrating a clinically significant benefit. NestaCell® also presented a good safety and tolerability profile, with few adverse events related to the product. The results support the conclusion that NestaCell® is safe and well tolerated in HD patients, within the doses tested.
iMarkHD: In Vivo Longitudinal Imaging of HD Pathology
Huntington DiseaseiMarkHD is an adaptive, longitudinal positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging study in Huntington's disease (HD) that aims to assess abnormal molecular, functional, and structural changes in participants' brains, ranging from several years before symptom onset to the advanced symptom stage. The study will be conducted over a three (3) year period (Baseline, Year-1, and Year-2).
Preparing for Prevention of Huntington's Disease (PREVENT-HD)
Huntington DiseaseThis is a prospective investigation which aims to address key challenges to the design of clinical trials to prevent the onset of Huntington's disease (HD). The project will provide necessary psychometric data for clinical outcome assessments (COAs) and biomarkers (BMs) in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) to address questions of central importance to the success of these measures for premanifest clinical trials. Of the 258 participants: 52 will be low risk of motor diagnosis, 102 high risk of motor diagnosis, 52 with diagnosed HD (stages I or II), and 52 healthy controls. Participants can expect to be in the study for up to 2 years.
Clinicopathological MRI and CSF Correlates in Huntington's Disease.
Huntington DiseaseIn this study the investigators will link brain iron levels obtained from quantitative susceptibility maps of HD patients with specific and well-known clinical CSF markers for iron accumulation, neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. The relationship between iron accumulation and neuroinflammation, and the clinical and genetic characteristics of HD will be investigated. This will provide an important basis for the evaluation of brain iron levels as an imaging biomarker for disease state in HD and their relationship with the salient pathomechanisms of the disease.
Safety Evaluation of Cellavita HD Administered Intravenously in Participants With Huntington's Disease...
Huntington DiseaseCellavita HD is a stem-cell therapy for Huntington's Disease. This is a first-in-human, non-randomized, phase I study in which participants with Huntington's Disease will receive three intravenous injections and will be followed for 5 years to evaluate safety and tolearability of product and preliminary evidence of effectiveness.
Impact of Apathy on Caregiving in HD. Version 1
Huntington DiseaseHuntington's disease (HD) can affect motivation. People with HD may not wash often, keep their house clean and tidy, or eating healthy food. This loss of motivation, or apathy, can also affect the way they talk to people and how willing they are to be in social situations. There are thought to be four different subtypes of apathy. These include reduced (1) motivation for planning and organising, (2) emotional reactions, (3) thoughts and actions and (4) social interaction. It is clear from talking to patients and their families in clinic that apathy has a big impact. It is often a source of distress for the people around the patient, who are trying to support and care for them. We know from previous research, that having good social support helps people with Huntington's disease to live independently for longer. This research aims to understand the ways in which apathy can impact the levels of burden felt by caregivers of people with HD. Caregivers will be asked to take part in a single interview. They will be asked questions about caring for someone with apathy. There will also be the opportunity to share their own first-hand experiences. These interviews will be analysed for common themes using framework analysis. Attention will be given to the relationship between burden and the different types of apathy. Understanding the factors that lead to increased caregiver burden is the first step towards finding way to support caregivers of people with HD.