Nonmotor Symptoms in Huntington Disease.

Huntington disease (HD) is characterized by the triad of motor abnormalities, cognitive dysfunction, and behavioral changes. The aim of this chapter is to describe the frequency, clinical features, and management of behavioral and cognitive dysfunction in HD. Depression, suicidal ideation, apathy, irritability, aggressiveness, obsessions, and compulsions are the most common behavioral abnormalities in HD. All HD patients develop cognitive decline. Recent data suggest that these nonmotor changes are found in premanifest HD gene carriers. Finally, we review the therapeutic options available for behavioral and cognitive abnormalities in HD. The management of these conditions is based on experts' agreement since there is a lack of empirical data.