Huntington's Disease and Pain: Clinical Outcome, Cognitive Processing, Neurophysiological Pattern and Neuroanatomical Basis

Dear Colleagues,

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative illness with involuntary movements, cognitive decline, and varying degrees of behavioral and psychiatric dysfunction. Pain may be a minor problem compared with other patient’s symptoms; nevertheless, it could play a key role in the quality of life of affected individuals. The scientific literature shows contingent neurophysiological and neuroanatomical evidence regarding the progressive decrease in the prevalence of pain in HD progression and a scarcity of standardized neuropsychological assessment tools for measuring the pain variable in these patients. This may lead to inadequate recognition of pain and hence lack of treatment. Few and often conflicting studies have examined this topic. Given the relevance of pain in neurodegenerative disorders, the comprehensive understanding of mechanisms and predisposing factors, the application and validation of specific scales and new specific therapeutic trials are needed. The main purpose of this Special Issue is to collect studies that can shed light on the  prevalence and mechanisms of pain in HD. As a common feature, the studies will rely upon theories in cognitive processing, and evidence from neuroanatomical and neurophysiological patterns to allow a better understanding of how pain works in HD. This Special Issue can also be read as an invitation to the scientific community interested in HD to share common study designs in order to collect data in large databases studies with reliable sample size. Authors are invited to submit relevant original research articles, as well as opinion and review papers. This topic has the ultimate goal to open the doors of the guidelines for assessment and treatment of pain in HD.

Dr. Marianna Delussi
Prof. Dr. Elena Salvatore
Dr. Giulia Paparella
Guest Editors

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