Specific cognitive theory of mind and behavioral dysfunctions in early manifest Huntington disease: a case report

Neurocase. 2020 Feb;26(1):36-41. doi: 10.1080/13554794.2019.1696837. Epub 2019 Nov 26.

Abstract

Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating illness, associated with progressive motor, behavioral and cognitive dysfunctions. However, some studies emphasized that social cognition impairment could occur prior to the onset of these other symptoms. Here, we report the case of a 47 years old patient with early manifest HD, whose complaint was mainly related to the behavioral sphere. He exhibited a significant impairment of Theory of Mind abilities as well as behavioral, and discrete motor symptoms without noticeable cognitive decline. This case study suggests that social cognition impairments and behavioral changes could be in some cases a feature of the disease and may represent a major disability, in early stages of manifest HD.

Keywords: Huntington’s disease; behavioral symptoms; social cognition; structural MRI; theory of mind.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Behavioral Symptoms / etiology
  • Behavioral Symptoms / physiopathology*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / etiology
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Huntington Disease / complications
  • Huntington Disease / physiopathology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Social Cognition*
  • Theory of Mind / physiology*