Disease Directory Huntington's Disease
Neurological

Huntington's Disease

Also known as: HD, Huntington disease

Prevalence

5–10 per 100,000 in Western populations

Onset

Typically 30–50 years (juvenile form: before 20)

Type

Disease

Gene

HTT

About Huntington's Disease

Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the HTT gene encoding huntingtin protein. It causes progressive decline in movement, cognition, and psychiatric function. There is currently no disease-modifying treatment, making the clinical trial landscape extremely active. Approaches under investigation include antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting huntingtin mRNA, RNA interference, small molecule lowering agents, and neuroprotective strategies.

Common Clinical Features

Chorea (involuntary jerking movements) Cognitive decline Psychiatric symptoms (depression, irritability, psychosis) Impaired coordination and balance Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) Slurred speech (dysarthria) Weight loss Sleep disturbances

Clinical Trial Eligibility Tips

What to know before applying to Huntington's Disease trials.

Predictive genetic testing is available for at-risk individuals — genetic counselling is strongly recommended before testing.

Many HD trials now enrol pre-manifest gene carriers years before symptom onset — a positive gene test may make you eligible sooner.

The ENROLL-HD global registry is the most important resource for HD trial access — enrol even if you have no current symptoms.

Patient Resources

Patient Organization

HDSA — Huntington's Disease Society of America

Visit website ↗

Natural History Registry

ENROLL-HD

Join registry ↗

Orphanet

European reference resource for rare diseases

View on Orphanet ↗

NORD

National Organization for Rare Disorders

Search NORD ↗

Find recruiting Huntington's Disease trials

Search 500,000+ studies from ClinicalTrials.gov, filtered for Huntington's Disease. Updated daily.

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