Summary
- The Talk on Tau: Cognitive changes in HD
- Upcoming Research Webinar: Gene Therapies with the Hereditary Disease Foundation
- Community Advocate on Living with HD: Charles Sabine at TEDxBath
The Talk on Tau: Cognitive changes in HD
The onset of HD symptoms varies; even individuals with the same number of CAG-repeats may differ greatly in their earliest presentation of the disease. Researchers from Barcelona, including 2019 HDSA HD Human Biology Fellow, Dr. Saül Martinez-Horta, recently published a study that explored whether the buildup of Tau, a structural protein in the brain that can be toxic in high amounts, may contribute to early cognitive symptoms in people with HD. 30 participants with HD were assessed by researchers via movement and cognitive tests, brain imaging, and blood samples to look at levels of Tau protein and Neurofilament Light (NfL), a marker of neurodegeneration. The researchers found that Tau protein was associated with cognitive changes in people with HD. To read more about this study, click here.
Upcoming Research Webinar: Gene Therapies with the Hereditary Disease Foundation
Join the Hereditary Disease Foundation on Thursday, April 23rd, at 12 PM ET for the next installment of their research webinar series, “Developing Transformative Tools: Gene Therapy for Huntington’s Disease,” featuring Drs. Beverly Davison, Leslie Thompson, and Jang-Ho Cha. Register to join here. To learn more about the speakers or view previous HDF Research webinars, visit their website here.
Community Advocate on Living with HD: Charles Sabine at TEDxBath
Emmy-award winning journalist, Charles Sabine, OBE, tested positive for HD in 2006. In his recent talk at TEDxBath, Charles sheds light on the shared experiences of the global HD community by sharing his personal journey with HD and historical context of the disease. Listen to this moving presentation here.
