In two recent studies, researchers looked at how different parts of the brain are affected by CAG expansions in Huntington's disease (HD) at the level of individual brain cells. The scientists looked at post-mortem brains from people with and without HD to track molecular changes in different brain regions called the cortex and striatum. These studies have provided new insights into what contributes to HD. Let’s get into it!
Specific brain areas are prone to damage in HD
For a long time now, we have known that some areas of the brain are affected more than others in people with HD. Specific types of brain cells in these vulnerable parts of the brain tend to die off more quickly than others, in a process known as degeneration.
However, the underlying reasons for why some cells are affected more than others are not very clear. Lots of researchers from around the world have been trying to figure this out, as it might shine a light on exactly how HD progresses and give us clues as to how we might treat it.