HDBuzz

Two studies from the same research group have helped to provide some important blueprints for Huntington’s disease (HD) research, helping us to more clearly understand what the toxic fragment form of the expanded huntingtin protein is doing. The first study maps the structure of the toxic fragment protein, called exon 1, that clumps together to form fibres. The second study shows how a natural compound could change the shape of these protein fibres, potentially making them less harmful to brain cells. Let’s get into it. 

Understanding the Huntingtin Protein, Atom by Atom

Imagine trying to build a machine with a collection of parts but no instructions about how they go together. Some pieces look familiar, others are oddly shaped, and a few keep jamming the gears. 

That’s what scientists studying HD have been facing for decades. We know that in HD, an expanded form of the huntingtin protein is made, and that this seems to misfold and clump into damaging shapes and structures. We had some early snapshots of what these clumps might looks like. but, until very recently, we haven’t had a clear “blueprint” to show what those shapes look like, so it’s tricky to figure out exactly how they might be toxic.

Two studies have used cutting-edge microscopes and other technologies to delve into exactly what these toxic huntingtin exon 1 protein clumps look like at the atomic level. This means understanding where every atom of the protein is in 3D space, and how they are all connected – a ton of really cool detail. So what did they find? 

Finding the Right Fit: Mapping Protein Clumps

In the first study, published in Nature Communications, scientists set out to solve one of the big structural mysteries in HD: what do huntingtin exon 1 fibrils actually look like at the atomic level?

These fibrils are dense, fibre-like structures made of fragments of the huntingtin protein, called exon 1, that stack together to form big assemblies. They form inside brain cells when the huntingtin protein is abnormally expanded in HD. These protein assemblies, also called aggregates, are believed to be key contributors to cell damage in HD.

Until now, researchers were working without clear assembly instructions about these fibres. While similar types of protein clumps in other brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s have been structurally mapped, HD fibrils remained largely uncharted territory.

Using a combination of advanced methods such as cryo-electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics (what a mouthful!), the team created a detailed model of these exon 1 fibrils. It’s like taking a blurry photo of a complex machine and finally replacing it with a 3D CAD model so that every detail of it’s mechanics is clearly mapped out.

What they found was not just a tightly packed core, but also a more flexible, fuzzy outer layer. This “fuzzy coat” may play a role in how the fibrils interact with other molecules in the cell and how they trigger different responses.

Another clever technique used in the study allowed the researchers to see how well the protein fibres can “breathe”. This helped identify which parts of the fibrils are buried deep in the fibre core and those that are more exposed on the surface. 

The model built by the researchers provides critical insight for other scientists to design tools to detect or break apart these clumps in the future, as well as to continue to study how these fibres contribute to the signs and symptoms of HD.

Can We Change the Design Mid-Build?

The second study, also published in Nature Communications, took this one step further. With the blueprint in hand, they asked: can we tweak how these structures form in the first place?

The team explored this idea using curcumin, a naturally occurring polyphenol compound found in turmeric. While curcumin itself is not a drug, it’s long been studied for its anti-inflammatory properties, which are thought to be linked to how it interacts with proteins. But don’t start downing massive amounts of curcumin or turmeric with the hopes of altering the expanded huntingtin structure. These studies were only done in a test tube and cells grown in a dish, so lots more work is needed before we know if there would be beneficial effects in people.

In a test tube, the researchers added very small amounts of curcumin to mixtures of huntingtin exon 1. Think of it like adding a part from the assembly line earlier on in the build to see if the final product turns out better. That small change had ripple effects on how the huntingtin fibres formed. The fibrils assembled more slowly, and the resulting shapes appeared to be different; less rigid and “sticky,” but encouragingly they seemed to be less stressful for cells.

The team also showed that the curcumin-influenced fibrils seemed to be structurally distinct. When they advanced to testing the effects of curcumin on cells in a dish, these altered fibres didn’t appear to trigger the same level of stress response in neurons in a dish.

A key difference seemed to be in how the folding pattern of the fibres was altered. These fibres had a slightly different blueprint, made from the same pieces that seemed to be less harmful in cell models. 

What This Means for the HD Community

Together, these studies help reveal how the pieces of the HD puzzle fit together, and suggest new ways that we might target or stabilize fibrils to protect brain health. Understanding the shape of these harmful protein aggregates gives scientists a map to work from, to better understand how downstream damage might occur. 

Even more exciting, the second study shows that it could be possible to shift how these aggregates form, potentially impacting how they behave. Instead of trying to clean up a mess after it’s formed, we might be able to build a different structure from the start, one that doesn’t cause harm.

It’s important to note though that curcumin is not a treatment. We certainly don’t have sufficient evidence to suggest that people with the gene for HD or with HD should start taking curcumin or turmeric as a means of altering the expanded huntingtin protein shape. 

Additionally, these are lab-based studies done in test tubes and on cells grown in a dish, not in animal models or in clinical trials. But the principle is promising as a jumping off point for other studies. If researchers can find small molecules that guide huntingtin into safer shapes, they may be able to stop or slow the disease process one day.

Assembling the Future

The story of HD is, in many ways, a story of an assembly line gone wrong; a single genetic glitch creates a cascade where alternative parts are used inside brain cells. These two studies help us understand that story more clearly, offering detailed diagrams of how the pieces fit and the hopeful possibility of redesigning the system altogether.

Science is often like working a massive, 10,000-piece puzzle without the box so that we can see the final picture. But every time we snap a few pieces into place, the bigger picture becomes easier to see. With each structural insight, each smart intervention, we move closer to building a future where HD is a solvable problem, and not an unsolvable puzzle.

Summary

• HD is caused by an expanded huntingtin protein that clumps into harmful fibres.
• Two new Nature Communications studies reveal:
  • A detailed atomic map of huntingtin exon 1 fibres.
  • Evidence that a natural compound, curcumin, can alter how these fibres assemble, making them less toxic.
• These findings provide blueprints for designing potential new strategies to stop HD damage earlier.
• However, without support from more established studies, people shouldn’t take curcumin or turmeric as a means of altering expanded huntingtin.

Learn more

Atomic structure of huntingtin exon 1 fibrils reveals a compact amyloid core and dynamic fuzzy coat (Open Access) 

Curcumin reshapes huntingtin exon 1 fibrils into less toxic conformers (Open Access)

Biomarkers are measurable signs of what’s happening inside the body and are essential for running successful Huntington’s disease (HD) trials. Right now, neurofilament light (NfL) is the star of the HD biomarker world, but we need more players on the team. A new study from Cyprus scanned every type and amount of protein molecules found in blood samples, to see how these changed over time in people with HD. They found two potential biomarker candidates, CAP1 and CAPZB, which seem to be linked to very early changes in HD. With follow up studies, these findings could add powerful new tools for tracking disease progression and measuring the impact of future treatments.

Biomarkers Are Critical For HD Research

Imagine running a race without a finish line. That’s what testing an HD treatment would be like without biomarkers. You could hand someone a promising new drug, but without a way to measure what’s happening in the brain, you wouldn’t know if it’s helping, hurting, or doing nothing at all.

That’s why biomarkers are so important. In HD, one of the best so far is neurofilament light (NfL), a protein released when neurons are damaged. NfL seems to be reliable, it’s being used in many ongoing trials, seems to track with some of the earliest changes that HD causes, and it’s taught us a lot about how possible HD treatments might impact brain health. But no single biomarker can capture the whole progressive story of HD, or how things might change with different treatments. We need a team of biomarkers that can cover different angles, especially ones that show up before the earliest of symptoms start.

Enter this new research study, which is a wide-angle look at the blood for signs of HD, even in its earliest days.

So, What’s A Proteome, Anyway?

Think of your body as a giant city. Your genes are the blueprints for all the buildings, roads, and systems. Proteins are the workers – the electricians, the bus drivers, the teachers, the police officers. They’re the ones making things actually happen.

The proteome is the full roster of those workers at any given moment. And just like in a real city, the lineup changes depending on what’s going on, like if there’s a festival, a storm, or a traffic jam, the people you would want on your crew would change. Proteomics is the science of counting and studying all those workers to see who’s showing up, who’s missing, and who’s acting differently than usual.

In this study, the “city” in question was the blood of people with and without HD.

The Study Breakdown

The researchers studied 36 people with the gene for HD, split into three groups:

• Asymptomatic: gene-positive but no clinical signs yet
• Early symptomatic: subtle movement or thinking changes
• Advanced symptomatic: more pronounced symptoms affecting daily life

They also included 36 healthy controls, all from Cyprus. Using blood serum (the clear liquid part of blood), they analyzed thousands of proteins to see which ones changed at each stage of HD.

The advantage of blood serum is that it’s far easier to collect than spinal fluid, no lumbar punctures required, making it a practical (and much desired!) source for future biomarker testing.

Early Trouble In The Cell’s Skeleton

The first finding from this research seemed to show up before symptoms appeared, suggesting there may be changes in proteins linked to the cell’s cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is the internal scaffolding that gives cells their shape and allows them to move and connect.

This work suggests the city’s buildings may be losing their supporting beams before any cracks appear in the walls. Identifying changes that happen early in HD, before symptoms are readily apparent, will help researchers identify key molecular events in HD progression.

As the disease advanced, two other themes emerged. First, the complement system, a frontline part of the immune response, seemed to be stuck in an overactive state, which in the brain could mean inflammation and loss of brain cell connections. Second, lipid and cholesterol regulation appeared to go off balance, which matters because cholesterol is vital for healthy brain cell communication.

While all of these are interesting findings, none of this is particularly new for HD researchers. There have been several studies looking at cytoskeleton differences in brain cells, changes to the complement system, and cholesterol dysregulation in HD before. But those studies have largely focused on the molecular changes HD causes within those biological functions, and not using those changes to identify biomarkers.

Biomarkers are measurable signs of what’s happening inside the body and are essential for running successful Huntington’s disease (HD) trials. Right now, neurofilament light (NfL) is the star of the HD biomarker world, but we need more players on the team.

Meet CAP1 And CAPZB

From the long list of changing proteins identified in this study, two stood out for the researchers:

• CAP1 seemed to be lower in people with HD, especially in the asymptomatic group. This made it stand out to the scientists as a strong candidate for an early-warning biomarker, one that changes before symptoms. CAP1’s role in the cell is to help keep the cytoskeleton stable.
• CAPZB seemed to be higher in all HD stages, piquing interest as a potential general disease marker that could be useful for tracking HD once it’s underway. CAPZB also works on the cytoskeleton, specifically regulating actin, a key structural protein.

The More the Merrier

If validated in larger, more diverse groups, CAP1 and CAPZB could join NfL in the HD biomarker toolkit. Together, they could help flag HD-related changes years before symptoms start, which will be critical for advancing trials aimed at treating HD before the more obvious symptoms of the disease begin. They could help track how fast the disease is progressing, which could help people with planning life events. And they could help show whether a treatment is making a difference, which is why biomarkers are so critical for HD research.

This is especially important in prevention trials, where the goal is to treat people before the disease has visibly started. Without early biomarkers, we’d have no way to see if those treatments are working.

Some Things To Keep In Mind

This study was done on a very specific population of people – those from the small island of Cyprus. Because this is a limited population of people, there could be “founder effects” at play, which means that the population of people with HD on Cyprus could have started from one person or just a few individuals that, over time, produced the family(ies) on Cyprus with HD. 

In theory, that limited initial person/people could have had unique genetic signatures that made the biomarkers identified in this study specific for them and their progeny. Because of that, a more diverse set of people needs to be studied before we could say if these are solid biomarkers to chase for HD. 

Another thing to keep in mind here is that only 36 people were assessed in this study. That’s a small number of people when it comes to a biological study. Combined with the fact that the diversity is limited, and that small pool of participants could really mask results or skew findings.

Even Still, These Types of Studies Are Critical

While the points above are important caveats that suggest we should interpret these findings with a healthy pinch of salt until larger studies are done, the importance of these types of studies for advancing HD research cannot be overstated. 

Having biomarkers that track with disease progression, particularly in people that are at the earliest stages of HD, is essential for advancing disease modifying drugs. This is especially important as we move toward trials aimed at treating people with HD earlier on in their HD journey, perhaps even before notable symptoms arise. 

Another important note from this work is that it was done using blood serum, showing that researchers are committed to discovering biomarkers that track with early disease progression that can be measured in a minimally invasive way. We know everyone would appreciate not having to get a spinal tap at every appointment! So while we’re not quite there yet, it is certainly something scientists are working toward.

Lastly, the results from this study were made possible by “omics” studies – giant, detailed inventories of all the parts in a living thing, whether that’s all the genes, all the proteins, all the fats, or all the other molecules that keep it alive. These types of research studies that look at how everything changes, then narrow in on those things that change the most have transformed our understanding of HD over the past decade. It was omics studies that initially defined genetic modifiers from the GeM-HD Consortium study, contributing to the discovery of somatic instability. And omics studies will undoubtedly help usher in the forthcoming treatments we’re all eagerly awaiting.

Having biomarkers that track with disease progression, particularly in people that are at the earliest stages of HD, is essential for advancing disease modifying drugs. This is especially important as we move toward trials aimed at treating people with HD earlier on in their HD journey, perhaps even before notable symptoms arise. 

The Road Ahead

First and foremost, before CAP1 and CAPZB can move from research to clinic, it’s critical that scientists test them in bigger, global HD cohorts. They also need to follow people over time to see how levels might shift as HD progresses in those larger populations. They should also check whether they’re unique to HD or also change in other brain diseases.

So, while there’s a long road ahead for CAP1 and CAPZB, work advancing new biomarkers for HD is critical, and it’s ongoing. It’s especially important as we move toward clinical trials aimed at treating HD earlier, perhaps even before symptoms arise. And the added benefit of blood biomarkers is incredibly exciting. Imagine having a simple blood test that could tell researchers, with confidence, that a new drug is slowing HD in its tracks. That’s the kind of advancements that these biomarker studies could bring. 

Summary

• Biomarkers are crucial in HD research for measuring treatment effects.
• NfL is a strong HD biomarker, but more are needed for a complete picture.
• This study scanned the blood proteome of people with and without the gene for HD from the small island of Cyprus.
• Two proteins seemed to stand out: CAP1 (lower in people with early HD) and CAPZB (higher across all stages of HD), both linked to early cell structure problems.
• If validated in larger more diverse populations of people, they could help detect and track HD years before symptoms, a critical advancement for future clinical trials aimed at treating HD earlier, perhaps even before symptoms arise.

Learn More

Original research article, “Stage-Specific Serum Proteomic Signatures Reveal Early Biomarkers and Molecular Pathways in Huntington’s Disease Progression” (open access).

While Huntington’s disease (HD) primarily affects the brain, the genetic change that causes the disease is present in every cell throughout the body. Because of that, it has influences beyond the brain, including in the gut. Increasing evidence suggests that changes in gut microbes, leaky barriers, inflammation, and nerve signaling may contribute to HD progression. A recent review of published research maps the “gut–brain superhighway” in HD, highlighting where traffic flows smoothly, where it’s blocked, and where detours might offer new treatment options.

How Human Are You, Really?

If someone were to ask you what species you see when you look in the mirror, you would undoubtedly say human. But people are actually made up of more microbes than anything else. Shockingly, there are more microbial cells in your body than human cells. And 99% of the genetic material in your body is from microbes – only 1% of your DNA is of human origin! So it makes sense that when we think about human biology, we should seriously consider the role that microbes play in our health.

Microbes are microscopic organisms, like bacteria, viruses, fungus, or yeast. When we think of such things, we typically think of infections, but most microbes are harmless, and even helpful. The various microbes that live in our gut help us digest various foods, aid with nutrient absorption, and work to develop our immune systems. Increasing evidence also suggests that the gut, and the microbes that live there, can impact brain health. 

The gut is so closely tied to the brain that some scientists call it the “second brain”. This is because there is an extensive network of neurons within our gut that directly communicates with the brain through the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the main connection that controls the parasympathetic nervous system. Think of your parasympathetic nervous system as controlling “rest and digest” functions. It helps to regulate digestion, heart rate, and our immune system. 

From the Brain to the Belly: Why the Gut Matters in HD

We tend to picture HD as a one-way street, where the gene that causes HD produces a faulty protein that causes a decline in brain health. But it’s more like a two-way superhighway with lots of back and forth between the brain and the rest of the body, especially between the brain and the gut, referred to as the “gut-brain axis”. 

This road is busy with traffic lanes like the vagus nerve, immune cells, and the “second brain” of the gut. There are vehicles carrying chemical messengers made by gut microbes and border checkpoints such as the gut lining and the blood–brain barrier, which should only let safe travelers through.

In HD, problems at almost every point on this route can slow traffic, let dangerous cargo through, or disrupt communication entirely.

Roadwork and Weak Bridges: Barriers Breaking Down

HD’s faulty protein, expanded huntingtin (HTT), isn’t just in the brain, it’s everywhere, including the gut. This widespread presence may contribute to why people with HD often have symptoms in parts of their bodies beyond the brain, including gastrointestinal problems like chronic diarrhea, constipation, incontinence, and poor nutrient absorption.

Two major “bridges” on our superhighway are affected – the gut barrier and the blood-brain barrier. The gut barrier can become “leaky,” letting microbes or their components escape into the bloodstream. There is some evidence for this in people with the gene for HD before and after they start to show symptoms, seemingly at levels comparable to those in inflammatory bowel disease. 

The blood–brain barrier also shows signs of “loosened bolts” in HD, with fewer tight junction proteins holding it together. When both bridges are compromised, harmful substances from the gut could have a clearer route to the brain. Supporting this possibility, traces of bacterial and fungal DNA have been found in the brains of people with HD after death. While contamination is possible, it suggests that microbes, or at least parts of microbes, might be able to cross compromised barriers of the gut and brain.

Traffic Jams: Inflammation Along the Route

The gut is the body’s largest immune organ. In HD, this immune system seems stuck in overdrive, like a traffic jam of inflammatory signals. Cytokines, which play a role in regulating the immune response and inflammation, seem to be present at increased levels in blood from people with HD, years before symptoms start. Adding to that, higher levels of some cytokines appear to be linked with worse symptoms and lower scores that chart someone’s ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. 

But encouragingly, it seems that some beneficial gut bacteria may be able to dampen this inflammation, acting like traffic police to keep things moving. However more work is needed to understand the exact type of bacteria that could provide a benefit and if we could harness this as a future treatment option for people with HD. 

Inflammation is also seen inside the gut itself, with high levels of a biomarker that signals stress on the gut lining. 

Faulty Signaling: Vagus Nerve Disruptions

The vagus nerve is the main fiber-optic cable of the gut–brain superhighway. It carries both sensory updates from the gut to the brain and calming “anti-inflammatory” signals back down. In HD, low vagal tone, a sign of reduced nerve activity, seems to be present even 20 years before motor symptoms. 

Low tone could worsen inflammation and has been linked to depression, a common symptom of HD. Researchers are asking whether stimulating the vagus nerve could one day be a therapeutic on-ramp.

The Microbial Passenger List: Who’s in the Vehicles?

Studies are suggesting that the gut microbiome in HD has a different passenger list than in healthy individuals. Diversity may be lower, meaning fewer types of microbes, and certain species might be missing or reduced. Less diversity in the gut microbiome has been linked to lower immune function, poorer digestion, and fatigue.

While more work is needed, researchers are starting to tease apart the microbial differences in the gut of people with HD. For example, the presence of certain microbes may be linked to better thinking skills but worse motor symptoms. And there appears to be sex-specific differences in both humans and mice, suggesting men and women may have different microbes present. 

Possible Road Repairs: Interventions in the Works

If the gut–brain superhighway in HD has traffic jams and potholes, the big question is, can we fix it? Scientists are exploring various ideas to get traffic flowing more smoothly. One option is probiotics (adding “good” bacteria) or prebiotics (feeding the good bacteria already there). These are generally safe, but the first HD trial testing probiotics didn’t show big changes in gut health or thinking skills, so more work is needed in this area to know if this might be beneficial. It might be that we need longer treatment or different combinations of probiotics are needed to see an effect.

Food itself could be a powerful repair tool. In HD mouse models, a high-fiber diet seemed to boost thinking skills, lift mood, and improve gut health. But the most striking findings from this study compared a high-fiber diet to a no-fiber diet in mice, which isn’t realistic for people, who are more likely to consume a low-fiber diet by comparison. So more work would be needed to test this theory.

In people, following a Mediterranean-style diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats has been reported by some to improve quality of life and perhaps allow for fewer movement problems. Other diets, like the ketogenic (very low-carb, high-fat) approach or intermittent fasting, have shown mixed results and come with serious risks. It’s a reminder that there’s probably no one-size-fits-all diet for HD.

It’s not just about food, how we live also shapes the gut–brain connection. In HD mice, physical activity and a stimulating environment seem to delay disease onset and slow progression, while also changing the gut microbiome. Even certain antibiotics, if chosen carefully, have shown reduced inflammation and protected nerve cells in lab models. But broad-spectrum antibiotics, the kind that wipe out a wide range of bacteria, can cause long-term damage to gut diversity, so they’re not a realistic option for intervening with the microbiome.

An Overlooked Exit: Oral Health

After the gut, the mouth has the second largest microbial population within the body. While the effect of HD on the microbes in the mouth hasn’t been studied, we do know that as HD progresses, it can become harder to keep up with oral hygiene. This can lead to gum disease, cavities, and inflammation in the mouth.

That might sound like a small problem compared to the challenges of HD, but oral health affects the whole body. Inflammation from the mouth can spill over into the bloodstream, adding to the overall “traffic jam” of inflammation we already see in HD. Over time, this could make gut and brain problems worse.

The good news is that this is an area where we already have easy tools. Regular dental care, help with brushing and flossing, and even specially designed oral probiotics could all help keep the mouth’s microbial community balanced. These simple steps might not just improve comfort and quality of life, they could also help reduce inflammation that feeds into HD’s wider effects.

It’s a reminder that in a complex condition like HD, the most effective “road repairs” might come from surprising places. From the microbes in our gut to the health of our mouth, every stop along the gut–brain superhighway could hold clues, and opportunities, for improving life with HD.

Summary

• The gut–brain axis is a busy two-way superhighway of nerves, immune cells, and chemical messengers.
• In HD, barriers leak, inflammation surges, and microbial balance shifts, potentially influencing disease progression.
• Early studies suggest diet, probiotics, or exercise could one day help, but more research is needed.
• Oral health may be an underexplored but important off-ramp in managing HD’s systemic inflammation.

Learn More

Original research article, “The microbiota–gut–brain axis in Huntington’s disease: pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic targets” (open access).

For many people raised in families affected by Huntington’s disease (HD), childhood isn’t just about scraped knees and schoolbooks. It can also mean living with uncertainty, emotional turbulence, and a silence that’s hard to navigate. While much of the focus is on the person with HD, a growing body of research is beginning to ask a different question: what about the children in these families? A recent study led by Dr. Ferdinando Squitieri and his team based in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, explored how growing up with a parent who has HD, may affect a child’s mental health later in adulthood. Sadly, the answer is yes, and this is a truth that requires our attention.

A Different Kind of Trauma

When we hear the word trauma, we might picture big, dramatic events that are easy to single out and identify. However, trauma can also come from smaller, repeated emotional experiences, especially in childhood, when we are still learning how to understand the world and our feelings.

It is important to remember that HD doesn’t just affect a person’s movement and mind (their ability to think, remember, and concentrate). It can also change how someone reacts emotionally, making them more irritable, withdrawn, or emotionally unpredictable. For some individuals with HD, these changes can appear before an official diagnosis.

For a child, this kind of environment can be deeply unsettling. A parent may lash out or become unusually distant. Imagine a child accidentally spilling their drink and being met with an outburst of anger or sharp criticism. Over time, the child learns to tread carefully, navigating the emotional landscape of the home like a minefield. 

They may not understand why their parent acts this way, and often, no one explains. Families might not know what is happening themselves, or may avoid talking about it out of fear, shame, or stigma.

Looking Back with Adult Eyes

In the study, Dr. Squitieri and his team recruited two groups of adults. One group included 38 people who had grown up with a parent with HD. The other group had 20 people who had no family history of HD or similar conditions.

Each person was asked a series of questions about their background, questions like their parent’s health (if they came from a family with HD), their childhood experiences, and their current emotional wellbeing. The questions gently explored whether someone had experienced abuse or neglect. They also asked about topics surrounding mental health, including anxiety, low mood, or stress, specifically focussing on how each person felt in the present day.

Researchers used statistics to look for patterns in the answers people gave in the questions. They compared different people who were in the same group, to see how people from different families with HD responded. They also compared responses between the two groups (people from families with HD and people from families who did not have HD). This enabled the researcher to understand whether there were links between childhood experiences and adult mental health.

People who had grown up in families with HD were more likely to experience emotional and psychological challenges in adulthood. This included feelings of low mood or overwhelm, and in some cases, trouble with thinking clearly or feeling connected to reality.

Emotional Echoes That Last

People who had grown up in families with HD were more likely to experience emotional and psychological challenges in adulthood. This included feelings of low mood or overwhelm, and in some cases, trouble with thinking clearly or feeling connected to reality.

However, what really stood out was why people from families with HD were struggling with their mental health in adulthood. The researchers found that it wasn’t always physical abuse or big, traumatic events that predicted mental health difficulties later in adulthood. 

More often, it was emotional abuse or neglect, things like constant criticism, hurtful words, or growing up in a home where emotions felt unsafe, unpredictable, or simply too difficult to talk about.

For children from families with HD, emotional experiences may shape how a person feels for decades to come.

Putting Feelings into Words

It is easy to read findings like this and feel a sense of heaviness. However, this research provides our HD community with understanding. It names what many people raised in families with HD have felt for years but could not always explain. This reminds us that emotional wellbeing matters, and that children in these homes may need more than just physical or practical support. They may need someone to listen, to believe them, and to help them make sense of what they are experiencing.

For adults who grew up in this kind of environment, it offers validation. If you’re struggling with mental health today, it may not be a personal weakness, or something random. It could be something rooted in your past, something that started subtly, and has stayed with you. But that also means healing is possible. Support is possible, and available.

If you would like to learn more about support systems and resources available for young people impacted by HD, we encourage you to reach out to the Huntington’s Disease Youth Organization (HDYO), who has made available a wide range of resources, including access to peer support and connections to professionals in the community. You can also reach out to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) National Youth Alliance (NYA), who provides youth support groups, education days, and HD awareness. You are not alone, and support is available. 

It is easy to read findings like this and feel a sense of heaviness. However, this research provides our HD community with understanding.

A Quiet Kind of Bravery

Growing up in a family with HD can require a quiet kind of bravery, the kind that doesn’t always get recognised by others. The child who carefully tiptoes around a parent’s mood. The teenager who keeps the family secret. The adult who is still trying to make sense of it all.

This study reminds us that early emotional experiences matter for children growing up in families with HD. “The Things We Carried from Childhood” is not just a metaphor. For many in families with HD, it is a truth they live with every day. 

But carrying something for a long time doesn’t mean you have to carry it alone, or forever. With support, healing is not just possible for adults from families with HD, it is within reach.

Summary

• Growing up with a parent who has HD often means living with emotional unpredictability and silence.
• A study of 38 adults from HD families found higher rates of depression, anxiety, and overwhelm than from people not from HD families.
• Emotional abuse or neglect, not major traumatic events, was the strongest link to adult mental health struggles.
• The findings validate lived experiences and highlight the need for emotional as well as practical support.
• Support and healing are possible through resources like HDYO and HDSA’s NYA.

Learn More

Original research article, “Childhood trauma and psychological distress during adulthood in children from Huntington’s disease families: An exploratory retrospective analysis” (open access).

Huntington’s disease (HD) is typically viewed as a brain disorder, but new research highlights its lesser-known effects on the body, especially on muscles, fat, and nutrition, even in the early stages. A recent study found that people with early HD seem to already show signs of muscle loss, altered fat distribution, and malnutrition, which could contribute to increased dependence on others for day-to-day tasks and cognitive decline. These findings suggest the importance of viewing HD as a  whole body condition and point to new opportunities for earlier interventions and possible biomarkers to track disease progression.

More Than a Brain Disease

HD is known as a genetic brain disorder, caused by an expansion of a DNA repeat sequence in the huntingtin gene. This leads to the production of a toxic protein, which accumulates and causes the well-known symptoms associated with changes in brain function: involuntary movements (chorea), behavior changes, and cognitive decline.

But the genetic change that causes HD is present in every cell within the body, so the disease’s reach goes beyond the brain. Changes in the heart, muscles, and even fat tissue have been documented. These so-called “peripheral” effects, that occur outside the brain and spinal cord, may begin early, chipping away at physical health before obvious symptoms appear.

Digging Into the Data: Muscles, Fat, and Function

A recent paper from a group in Austria explored the effects of HD on the body. The researchers studied 20 people living with early-stage HD (stages 1 and 2) and compared them with people who don’t have the gene for HD. They assessed body composition and strength using tools that measure fat to muscle ratio and handgrip strength. 

They found that sarcopenia, or loss of muscle mass, strength, and function, seemed to be rare and found in only 15% of people with HD. Sarcopenia is age-related and common in elderly folks, which can contribute to their reduced mobility and increased falls. While sarcopenia itself seemed to be rare for people with HD, certain aspects of sarcopenia appeared to be more common: reduced muscle mass was seen in 60% of people with HD and reduced strength was present in 45%.

Despite these changes, most people with HD still had preserved walking speed, a potential sign that loss of muscle and strength could begin silently, before functional decline is visible.

Shedding Fat, and Weight

People with HD also seemed to show progressive fat loss, especially as they moved from early stage 1 to stage 2, which isn’t surprising as people begin to experience increased movements because of chorea. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), and visceral fat (fat around organs) all declined with disease progression.

There was unintentional weight loss reported from 25% of people with HD. This suggests the decline wasn’t due to reduced appetite or difficulty eating alone, and is likely part of the disease process. 

Aside from an increase in calories burned because of chorea, molecular influences could also be at play. Weight loss could be contributed by the expanded huntingtin protein itself. Mitochondria are the cell’s powerhouse, and molecular changes that result from HD have been shown to impact the mitochondria’s ability to produce and store energy, in the brain as well as other tissues of the body. Additionally, expanded huntingtin may directly harm fat cells, alter metabolism, and trigger a form of programmed cell death.

Perhaps the most alarming finding from this recent study was the high rate of malnutrition in people with early HD. Using a standard assessment tool, the researchers found that 55% of people with HD were at risk for or already experiencing malnutrition.

Malnutrition: The Overlooked Risk

Perhaps the most alarming finding from this recent study was the high rate of malnutrition in people with early HD. Using a standard assessment tool, the researchers found that 55% of people with HD were at risk for or already experiencing malnutrition.

And this may not just be a side effect of weight loss, because it was linked to worse outcomes across the board:

• Lower muscle mass and fat
• More severe motor symptoms
• Higher levels of dependence on others for day-to-day tasks
• Executive function deficits (trouble planning or organizing)

This suggests that malnutrition could be a driver of decline, not just a consequence, underscoring how imperative it is to ensure that folks with the gene for HD focus on healthy diet and lifestyle choices that will allow them to maintain muscle mass and nutrition. 

Why Nutrition Is So Hard in HD

However, there are many factors that contribute to nutritional challenges for people with HD. Motor symptoms like chorea can make eating and cooking difficult. Swallowing problems (dysphagia) can begin early and can be subtle. And increased calorie burn, especially in people with more movements, raises daily energy demands.

Together, these factors can create a vicious cycle: less intake, more energy burned, and faster decline. These challenges are further heightened by the lack of research in some of these areas, like dysphagia, which remains understudied in HD despite its importance.

So What Can Be Done?

Thankfully, this study doesn’t just point out problems, it offers solutions too. 

Firstly, people with the gene for HD should seek nutritional support so that they can be screened early and often for malnutrition risk. Food textures can also be selected based on those that are easier to swallow. High-calorie diets and supplements can be considered for those with higher energy demands or those with trouble keeping weight on. And nutrient-rich diets, like the Mediterranean diet, may be beneficial for avoiding malnutrition. 

Secondly, people with the gene for HD should focus early on physical activity to grow and maintain muscle mass. Resistance and endurance training, like walking or cycling, can help maintain strength. Exercise is known to improve motor function, walking, and balance, and may even help preserve brain volume and cognitive abilities.

Focusing on nutritional support and physical activity are more than just quality-of-life interventions, as this new research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting they could delay functional decline and extend independence.

A Surprising New Tool: Muscles as a Biomarker?

Another exciting possibility raised by this study suggests that muscle mass or strength could potentially serve as a future biomarker for HD progression

Because measuring someone’s fat to muscle ratio is simple and widely available, tracking body composition might one day offer a non-invasive way to monitor this aspect of disease and test the peripheral effectiveness of new therapies, particularly those designed to target huntingtin outside of the brain.

Focusing on nutritional support and physical activity are more than just quality-of-life interventions, as this new research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting they could delay functional decline and extend independence.

Looking Beyond the Brain

This study begins to reframe how we could think about HD. It’s not just a disorder of neurons in the brain, but rather a systemic condition that impacts every cell, affecting the body and brain in parallel.

And importantly, many of these physical symptoms, like muscle loss and malnutrition, could be impacted in a positive way through nutritional support and physical activity. Weight loss, reduced muscle mass, and malnutrition for people with HD don’t have to be inevitable. With early screening, proper support, and proactive care, we may be able to improve not just longevity, but quality of life.

TL;DR – Key Takeaways

• HD isn’t just a brain disease as it impacts every cell in the body, causing early changes in muscles, fat, and nutrition.
• Even in early stages, 60% of people with HD appeared to have reduced muscle mass, and 25% appeared to have unintentional weight loss.
• Over half were at risk of or already experiencing malnutrition, which was linked to worse motor and cognitive symptoms.
• Exercise and diet are promising interventions with both physical and cognitive benefits.
• Body composition could one day serve as a biomarker for HD progression in future trials.

Learn More

Original research article, “Silent destruction: hidden muscle wasting and body decline in early Huntington’s disease” (open access).