Behavior and quality of life in individuals with Huntington's Disease

• Grant number: 13/03002-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Celia Maria Giacheti
• Grantee: Caroline Stephanie da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências (FFC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Marília. Marília , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Huntington's Disease (HD) is a hereditary autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by some manifestations as behavioral disorders, chorea, cognitive impairment and muscular dystonia. Based in literature review, we found the lack of studies that characterize the behavior and evaluate the quality of life of individuals with HD. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the quality of life and behavior of Brazilians with HD. 40 persons will be selected, and 20 persons of them who constitute the experimental group, who are 18 years or older who have a diagnosis of HD without serious complaint hearing or other associated diseases. And 20 participants who constitute the control group have to be 18 years old or more and have typical development without diagnosis or clinical features of HD. These participants will be evaluated by the ASR and ABCL to assess behavior, WHOQOL to assess quality of life and respond to the questionnaire socioeconomic Critério Brasil. It is expected that the impact of HD negatively affects the quality of life of these individuals, and that this work can guide actions that can be taken to mitigate these impacts. (AU)