Smaller intracranial volume in prodromal Huntington's disease: Evidence for abnormal neurodevelopment

Peggy C. Nopoulos, Elizabeth H. Aylward, Christopher A. Ross, James A. Mills, Douglas R. Langbehn, Hans J. Johnson, Vincent A. Magnotta, Ronald K. Pierson, Leigh J. Beglinger, Martha A. Nance, Roger A. Barker, Jane S. Paulsen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominant brain disease. Although conceptualized as a neurodegenerative disease of the striatum, a growing number of studies challenge this classic concept of Huntington's disease aetiology. Intracranial volume is the tissue and fluid within the calvarium and is a representation of the maximal brain growth obtained during development. The current study reports intracranial volume obtained from an magnetic resonance imaging brain scan in a sample of subjects (n=707) who have undergone presymptomatic gene testing. Participants who are gene-expanded but not yet manifesting the disease (prodromal Huntington's disease) are compared with subjects who are non-gene expanded. The prodromal males had significantly smaller intracranial volume measures with a mean volume that was 4 lower compared with controls. Although the prodromal females had smaller intracranial volume measures compared with their controls, this was not significant. The current findings suggest that mutant huntingtin can cause abnormal development, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)137-142
Number of pages6
JournalBrain
Volume134
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2011

Keywords

  • brain
  • brain imaging
  • brain volumes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology

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