"Frontal" Behaviors Before the Diagnosis of Huntington's Disease and Their Relationship to Markers of Disease Progression: Evidence of Early Lack of Awareness

作者：Duff Kevin^*; Paulsen Jane S; Beglinger Leigh J; Langbehn Douglas R; Wang Chiachi; Stout Julie C; Ross Christopher A; Aylward Elizabeth; Carlozzi Noelle E; Queller Sarah

来源：Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 2010, 22(2): 196-207.

DOI：10.1176/appi.neuropsych.22.2.196

Huntington's disease has been linked with fronto-subcortical neuropathology and behaviors consistent with this dysfunction. Little is known about these "frontal" behaviors in the earliest phase of the illness. Comparisons between participants in the Predict-HD study (745 "expansion-positive" and 163 "expansion-negative" control subjects) on the Frontal System Behavior Scale looked for evidence of frontal behaviors, including apathy, disinhibition, and executive dysfunction. The authors were also able to compare participant and companion reporting of these frontal behaviors as a possible indication of awareness of behaviors. Expansion-positive individuals reported significantly more of these frontal behaviors than expansion-negative peers. Self- and companion-reported frontal behaviors were related to other Huntington's disease markers. Expansion-positive participants closest to Huntington's disease diagnosis showed greater discrepancies with companions on ratings of frontal behaviors. Even though most are more than 10 years from Huntington's disease diagnosis, mild frontal behaviors were present in this pre-diagnosed sample, which might make these behaviors useful as markers for Huntington's disease onset. Participant/companion discrepancies, especially closest to Huntington's disease diagnosis, might suggest early lack of awareness in these individuals. (The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 2010; 22: 196-207)

• 出版日期2010