The Special Issue “Juvenile Onset Huntington’s Disease” highlights the growing interest in understanding the unique aspects of this ultra-rare disorder. After decades of research, gene therapy trials are underway for Adult Onset Huntington’s Disease (AOHD). However, patients with Juvenile Onset Huntington’s Disease (JOHD) are often excluded from these efforts, leaving many questions regarding its phenomenology. The current issue includes seven articles spanning work on the difficult emotional experiences of parents of children with JOHD; a review of the clinical manifestations of JOHD; behavioral issues in JOHD; CAG repeat and age of motor onset; autonomic nervous system dysfunction; and abnormality in MRI metabolic markers. Finally, a review of the therapeutic advances is included, highlighting future possibilities of clinical trials in JOHD subjects. The HD community—patients, family members at-risk for HD, caregivers, health-care professionals and scientists—is keen on expanding our understanding of JOHD. In the flurry of research on AOHD, those with JOHD were seemingly ‘left behind.’ The study of patients who are afflicted early in life with HD has become imperative, with this Special Issue representing just the beginning of the required effort to address this urgent need.

This monograph describes the progress in neuropathological HD research made during the last century, the neuropathological hallmarks of HD and their pathogenic relevance. Starting with the initial descriptions of the progressive degeneration of the striatum as one of the key events in HD, the worldwide practiced Vonsattel HD grading system of striatal neurodegeneration will be outlined. Correlating neuropathological data with results on the functional neuroanatomy of the human brain, subsequent chapters will highlight recent HD findings: the neuronal loss in the cerebral neo-and allocortex, the neurodegeneration of select thalamic nuclei, the affection of the cerebellar cortex and nuclei, the involvement of select brainstem nuclei, as well as the pathophysiological relevance of these pathologies for the clinical picture of HD. Finally, the potential pathophysiological role of neuronal huntingtin aggregations and the most important and enduring challenges of neuropathological HD research are discussed.

"The Differential Diagnosis of Chorea provides a comprehensive account of the various neurological conditions, both genetic and acquired, that lead to this involuntary movement disorder.

The NMDA receptor plays a critical role in the development of the central nervous system and in adult neuroplasticity, learning, and memory. Therefore, it is not surprising that this receptor has been widely studied. However, despite the importance of rhythms for the sustenance of life, this aspect of NMDAR function remains poorly studied. Written

Can You Help Me?: Living in the Turbulent World of Huntington Disease shares the surprising, insightful, challenging, and even encouraging stories of patients and their families who live with Huntington Disease. Having seen patients for more than 40 years, Dr Thomas Bird, a pioneer neurogeneticist, adds a human touch to this genetic brain disease that devastates persons during mid-life when they can least afford it. With a brief history of Huntington Disease and the occasional scientific detail, the true heart of the book is the human experience of the disorder: � The man who cannot stay out of prison because he is addicted to being a burglar. � Another man shoots and kills his roommate while watching television and cannot explain why he did it. � The woman with Huntington Disease copes with her depression by using Texas line dancing. � A twelve year old girl with juvenile Huntington Disease who can barely walk and talk, but her classmates rally around with touching and heartfelt support. � And the 72 year old man with late onset Huntington Disease and severe depression is made worse by ECT, but improved (for a while) with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. These are just some of the compelling stories of people of all ages and in all walks of life who feel trapped by a progressive degenerative brain disease from which there is no escape.

This book represents the final work of the late Professor C. David Marsden, who was the most influential figure in the field of movement disorders, in terms of his contributions to both research and clinical practice, in the modern era. It was conceived and written by David Marsden and his colleague at the Institute of Neurology, Prof. Ivan Donaldson. It was their intention that this would be the most comprehensive book on movement disorders and also that it would serve as the 'clinical Bible' for the management of these conditions. It provides a masterly survey of the entire topic, which has been made possible only by vast laboratory and bedside experience. Marsden's Book of Movement Disorders covers the full breadth of movement disorders, from the underlying anatomy and understanding of basal ganglia function to the diagnosis and management of specific movement disorders, including the more common conditions such as Parkinson's Disease through to rare, and very rare conditions such as Niemann-Pick disease. Chapters follow a structured format with historical overviews, definitions, clinical features, differential diagnosis, investigations and treatment covered in a structured way. It is extensively illustrated with many original photographs and diagrams of historical significance. Among these illustrations are still images of some original film clips of some of Dr. Marsden's patients published here for the first time. Comprehensively referenced and updated by experts from the Institute of Neurology at Queen Square, this book is a valuable reference for, not just movement disorder specialists and researchers, but also for clinicians who care for patients with movement disorders.