Abnormal motor cortex excitability in preclinical and very early Huntington's disease
BACKGROUND: In Huntington's disease (HD), the cerebral cortex is involved early in the
disease process. The study of cortical excitability can therefore contribute to understanding
HD pathophysiology. METHODS: With transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) we
examined motor cortex excitability in 8 premanifest HD gene carriers, 8 very early
symptomatic HD patients, and 22 healthy control subjects. Electrophysiological measures
were correlated with the clinical stage of HD to identify motor cortical dysfunction before …
disease process. The study of cortical excitability can therefore contribute to understanding
HD pathophysiology. METHODS: With transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) we
examined motor cortex excitability in 8 premanifest HD gene carriers, 8 very early
symptomatic HD patients, and 22 healthy control subjects. Electrophysiological measures
were correlated with the clinical stage of HD to identify motor cortical dysfunction before …