Gut Microbiomes in HD

Egyéb feltételek

• Inclusion Criteria:; 18 years or older; Provide informed consent; Able to read and speak English; Agree to comply with study procedures
• Inclusion criteria for the control group include:; CAG repeat length ≤ 26; BMI 18.5-24.9
• Inclusion criteria for experimental group 1 include:; BMI < 18.5 (underweight) or significant, involuntary weight loss within the past 12 months; CAG repeat length 40 - 59; Documentation of the Clinical Diagnosis of HD with a high level of certainty (>99% confidence) using the validated Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS); Stage I-III on the Functional Assessment component of the UHDRS
• Inclusion criteria for experimental group 2 include:; BMI > 25.0 (overweight - obesity) or BMI ≤ 25.0 with significant, unexplained weight gain within the past 12 months; CAG repeat length 40 - 59; Documentation of the Clinical Diagnosis of HD with a high level of certainty (>99% confidence) using the validated UHDRS; Stage I-III on the Functional Assessment component of the UHDRS
• Exclusion Criteria:; CAG repeat length ≥ 60 to exclude participants with juvenile onset HD; CAG repeat length 36 - 39 to exclude participants with reduced penetrance. As this is a pilot study, we are primarily interested in participants with typical HD characteristics; UHDRS Functional Capacity stage ≥ 4 to exclude late-stage HD patients who may be institutionalized and receive nutrition through a feeding tube; Use of any of the following drugs within the last 6 months:; System antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, or anti-parasitics (intravenous, intramuscular, or oral); Corticosteroids (intravenous, intramuscular, oral, nasal, or inhaled); Cytokines; Methotrexate, immunosuppressive cytotoxic agents, or chemotherapy; Commercial probiotics ≥ 100 million CFU (fermented foods, yogurts, and other homeopathic probiotics and prebiotics do not apply); Use of topical antibiotics or topical steroids within the last 7 days; History of active, uncontrolled gastrointestinal disorders or diseases, including:; Inflammatory bowel disease; Ulcerative colitis; Crohn's disease; Irritable bowel syndrome; Infectious gastroenteritis, colitis, or gastritis; Clostridium difficile or Helicobacter pylori infection; Persistent or chronic constipation or diarrhea; Acute illness with or without fever at time of sample collection; Positive for HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C; Confirmed or suspected immunodeficient condition/state; Major surgery of the GI tract, excluding cholecystectomy and appendectomy; Unstable dietary history within the past month, such as elimination or significant increase of a major food group in the diet; Recent history of chronic, excessive alcohol consumption; Travel outside of the United States within the last 3 months