Research Frontiers
Part 3

Research at Washington University

An important part of what makes the Washington University Medical Center a Center of Excellence is its participation in research on HD and clinical trials. Center Director Dr. Perlmutter has conducted much research on movement disorders. Dr. Perlmutter has published at least 100 articles in the past 20 years, the majority of which relate to Parkinson’s disease. (For more information on how Parkinson’s and HD are related, click here.)

Patients who come to the Center also have the opportunity to participate in national clinical trials. Two recent clinical trials are PREDICT-HD and the OX-Phos Study. PREDICT-HD is an observational study that tracks the progression of people with HD over the course of four years. When the participants come in for their visits, they undergo cognitive testing, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans of the brain, and a motor evaluation. The goal of this study is to find neurobiological predictors of HD; they are looking for some readily identifiable sign in the brain that will indicate the progression of HD.

The OX-Phos Study is named for oxidation-phosphorylation, a very important step in cellular energy production. This study examines people who have tested positive and negative for HD, but have not started to have symptoms or only have very mild symptoms. This study involves one or two patient visits to compare how people with HD use sugar and oxygen in the brain differently from people who don’t have HD. This study is important because it is known that the altered huntingtin protein causes problems with energy metabolism. By studying how oxygen and sugar (important ingredients in creating usable energy in the body) are used in the brains of people with HD, researchers can better identify metabolic problems and develop treatments to address them. (For more information of energy metabolism and HD, click here.)

Last Modified: 02/06/2005

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