Huntington’s Disease Impacts Brain Blood Vessels Even Before Symptoms Appear

 

The hereditary condition Huntington’s not just impacts nerve cells in the brain but also exerts broad effects on microscopic blood vessels as per investigation.

These alterations to the vasculature were likewise noted in the pre-symptomatic phases of the ailment, showcasing the promise of this inquiry for forecasting brain well-being and assessing the advantageous impacts of lifestyle adjustments or therapies.

Huntington’s disorder is a familial genetic ailment resulting in cognitive decline, with a gradual deterioration in an individual’s mobility, recollection, and cognitive abilities. Presently, there exists no remedy.

The research, featured in Brain Communications, is authored by Juliane Bjerkan, Gemma Lancaster, Peter McClintock, and Aneta Stefanovska from Lancaster University, Jan Kobal, Sanja Šešok, and Bernard Meglič from the University Medical Centre in Ljubljana, Karol Budohoski from the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, and Peter Kirkpatrick from Cambridge University.

The team delved into alterations in the synchronization between neuronal activity and the brain's oxygenation in Huntington’s disease.

The vascular system and brain collaborate to ensure adequate energy supply to the brain. Remarkably, despite comprising merely around 2% of the body's weight, the brain consumes up to 20% of the body's energy.

The "neurovascular unit," comprising interconnected vasculature, astrocytes, and neurons, orchestrates this collaboration.

To evaluate the performance of these neurovascular units, the researchers melded non-invasive measurement techniques with innovative analysis methodologies developed by Lancaster’s Nonlinear and Biomedical Physics group.

Participants in the study had probes emitting infrared light affixed to their heads. This light, penetrating the skull harmlessly, facilitated the measurement of cerebral blood oxygenation.

Additionally, electrodes capable of measuring neuronal electrical activity were positioned on participants' heads. Subsequently, the researchers scrutinized various rhythms associated with brain and cardiovascular function employing mathematical methodologies. These rhythms encompassed heart and respiration rates, indicative of nutrient and oxygen transport, as well as slower rhythms linked to localized blood flow regulation. Brain activity manifests through faster rhythms.

The efficiency of the brain hinges on the harmonization of these rhythms. To gauge the efficiency of the neurovascular unit, both the strength and coordination of these rhythms were evaluated by calculating their "power" and "phase coherence."

Professor Aneta Stefanovska of Lancaster University remarked, "We are optimistic that the described method could serve to monitor disease progression and assess the impact of potential treatments or lifestyle modifications in Huntington’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, we aspire that our study will catalyze novel therapies targeting the vascular system and brain metabolism in Huntington’s disease."

Reference: Bjerkan J, Kobal J, Lancaster G, et al. The phase coherence of the neurovascular unit is reduced in Huntington’s disease