Structural Correlates of Neurological Signs in Huntington’s Disease: A Quantitative Approach

Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetically transmitted disorder associated with atrophy of the basal ganglia. Studies of the neuroanatomical correlates of HD have focused primarily on the anterior areas of the basal ganglia and on establishing an association between structural changes resulting...

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Main Authors: E. A. Loh, J. K. A. Roberts, E. Mohr
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1994-01-01
Series:Behavioural Neurology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/BEN-1994-73-404
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author E. A. Loh
J. K. A. Roberts
E. Mohr
author_facet E. A. Loh
J. K. A. Roberts
E. Mohr
author_sort E. A. Loh
collection DOAJ
description Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetically transmitted disorder associated with atrophy of the basal ganglia. Studies of the neuroanatomical correlates of HD have focused primarily on the anterior areas of the basal ganglia and on establishing an association between structural changes resulting from the presence and course of the illness. The objective of the present study was to assess the value of measurements of the third ventrical and lentiform regions. Computed tomographic (CT) brain scan measures of the basal ganglia of patients in the “early” and “late” stages of the disease were correlated with scores on a quantified neurological examination (QNE) and compared with scans of age-matched control groups. Basal ganglia atrophy was assessed by two conventional “anterior” measures: the maximal distance between the frontal horns of the lateral ventricles (FH) and the minimum distance between the caudate nuclei (CC), and two measures of more “posterior” regions: the width of the third ventricle (3V), and a measure of the lentiform regions (LENTI). In the group of patients with HD, CT scan measures were strongly correlated with disease duration. Further, in the “late” group, all CT measures were significantly correlated with QNE scores, with the two “posterior” measures being equally, if not more strongly correlated with QNE scores than the conventional “anterior” measures. Separate correlations of the CT indices of atrophy and QNE scores in the “early” and “late” HD groups revealed relationships between basal ganglia atrophy and motor abnormality consistent with earlier reports.
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spelling doaj-art-3509e94561b642fba06d60fff2f869042025-02-03T01:26:39ZengWileyBehavioural Neurology0953-41801875-85841994-01-0173-412713410.3233/BEN-1994-73-404Structural Correlates of Neurological Signs in Huntington’s Disease: A Quantitative ApproachE. A. Loh0J. K. A. Roberts1E. Mohr2Institute of Mental Health Research, Royal Ottawa Hospital/University of Ottawa, Neuropsychiatry Program and Neurodegenerative Disorders Branch, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Z 7K4, CanadaInstitute of Mental Health Research, Royal Ottawa Hospital/University of Ottawa, Neuropsychiatry Program and Neurodegenerative Disorders Branch, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Z 7K4, CanadaInstitute of Mental Health Research, Royal Ottawa Hospital/University of Ottawa, Neuropsychiatry Program and Neurodegenerative Disorders Branch, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Z 7K4, CanadaHuntington's disease (HD) is a genetically transmitted disorder associated with atrophy of the basal ganglia. Studies of the neuroanatomical correlates of HD have focused primarily on the anterior areas of the basal ganglia and on establishing an association between structural changes resulting from the presence and course of the illness. The objective of the present study was to assess the value of measurements of the third ventrical and lentiform regions. Computed tomographic (CT) brain scan measures of the basal ganglia of patients in the “early” and “late” stages of the disease were correlated with scores on a quantified neurological examination (QNE) and compared with scans of age-matched control groups. Basal ganglia atrophy was assessed by two conventional “anterior” measures: the maximal distance between the frontal horns of the lateral ventricles (FH) and the minimum distance between the caudate nuclei (CC), and two measures of more “posterior” regions: the width of the third ventricle (3V), and a measure of the lentiform regions (LENTI). In the group of patients with HD, CT scan measures were strongly correlated with disease duration. Further, in the “late” group, all CT measures were significantly correlated with QNE scores, with the two “posterior” measures being equally, if not more strongly correlated with QNE scores than the conventional “anterior” measures. Separate correlations of the CT indices of atrophy and QNE scores in the “early” and “late” HD groups revealed relationships between basal ganglia atrophy and motor abnormality consistent with earlier reports.http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/BEN-1994-73-404
spellingShingle E. A. Loh
J. K. A. Roberts
E. Mohr
Structural Correlates of Neurological Signs in Huntington’s Disease: A Quantitative Approach
Behavioural Neurology
title Structural Correlates of Neurological Signs in Huntington’s Disease: A Quantitative Approach
title_full Structural Correlates of Neurological Signs in Huntington’s Disease: A Quantitative Approach
title_fullStr Structural Correlates of Neurological Signs in Huntington’s Disease: A Quantitative Approach
title_full_unstemmed Structural Correlates of Neurological Signs in Huntington’s Disease: A Quantitative Approach
title_short Structural Correlates of Neurological Signs in Huntington’s Disease: A Quantitative Approach
title_sort structural correlates of neurological signs in huntington s disease a quantitative approach
url http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/BEN-1994-73-404
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