Our results demonstrate that parts of the brain that manage emotions, the so-called limbic system, is affected early in HD mutation carriers.  These changes may contribute to the development of psychiatric and cognitive symptoms.  In many cases these are the most troublesome symptoms for both patients and their close family.

Our findings show that it’s not only the nerve cells that are affected in HD, but also other kinds of cells, like oligodendrocytes which play a major role in facilitating the communication between different parts in the brain, explains principal investigator Åsa Petersèn. 

The study is another example of successful international collaborations in the HD field.

Read the full article here