Therapeutic Approaches for the Treatment of Chorea in Huntington’s Disease

Abstract

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a complex condition that involves both motor and non-motor symptoms. The hallmark motor symptom is chorea, which can be suppressed with treatment. However, the potential benefits of treatment must be carefully weighed against the risks. Currently, three US Food and Drug Administration-approved medications are available for treating HD-related chorea: tetrabenazine, deutetrabenazine and valbenazine. While these medications can be effective in suppressing chorea, they have limitations. As a result, alternative classes of medications, such as antipsychotics, may also be considered when treatment of chorea is necessary, especially in the context of troublesome psychiatric symptoms. In this article, we review the literature supporting pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies for HD. While chorea is only one of many symptoms in HD, effective suppression of troublesome chorea can reduce the burden on those affected by HD.