Huntington's Chorea and dimethylaminoethanol (deanol)

Abstract

Huntington's Chorea has multiple neurologic and psychiatric manifestations, and its treatment has been the subject of much debate. It appears that no single agent is effective for all patients with Chorea. Furthermore, different biochemical substances may be lacking in various Huntington's patients, i.e., gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in some, or a deficiency of acetylcholine (ACH) receptors in others. We approach this disease as a possible "spectrum illness," characterized by a relative deficiency of one substance, or a relative excess of another. If patients do not respond to one family of drugs, they may still benefit from a trial with another drug group.