Critical Role of Low-Flow
“Wonderbelt University Medical Center’s New Research Reveals a Noticeable Decrease in Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Flow in Huntington’s Disease (HD)”
A recent study conducted by researchers affiliated with the field of neurology, including Klyan Heat, PhD, Daniel Classen, MD, MS, along with colleagues from neurology and radiology/radiological sciences,
has shed light on a significant reduction in the pure flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in Huntington’s Disease (HD). It indicates that this reduction becomes more pronounced in the later stages of the disease.
The research team assessed 29 HD patients and 51 age-matched controls. Compared to the controls, the average CSF flow in HD was roughly half, and in the later stages, it decreased to only 13%. The authors suggest that this discovery could have implications for the progression and treatment of the disease.
Reduced flow of CSF
One concern is that the reduced flow of CSF could affect the distribution of HD medications delivered through the spinal cord.
Huntington’s Disease is genetic, characterized by the accumulation of mutated Huntington protein within brain cells. Considering that CSF, among its other functions, helps remove waste products from the brain, questions arise about whether maintaining a compromised CSF flow can be beneficial in preserving and repairing these mutated proteins in the brain.
The study also hints at various collaborations in the pathophysiology of CSF in HD among different stakeholders, including factors like fluid velocity, ventricular volume, and the severity of Huntington protein mutations.
Other contributors to this research include Jared Asma, Adriana Hernandez, Colin MacQuaint, MD, Alexander Song, Jason Ellenberger, Sareen Konsewicz, PhD, and Mans Donoho, PhD, all contributing to the exploration of HD and CSF dynamics. The study was supported by the National Institute of Health (AG062574).
Related Publications:
- Initial Effects of Huntington’s Disease
- Neurofluid Flow and Alzheimer’s Disease
- Progression in Parkinson’s Disease
- The Role of Risk Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness
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