COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE IN UK SAMPLE OF PRESYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE CARRYING THE GENE FOR HUNTINGTONS-DISEASE

This paper presents an investigation of cognitive ability in 30 subjec ts at risk for Huntington's disease. Those shown to be at high or low risk for this disease are compared on a wide range of neuropsychologic al measures. Results indicate only one significant difference between the two groups; those who carry the gene show a higher level of perfor mance on the Corsi Supraspan task. It is suggested, however, that mini mal deficits are apparent in the at risk gene carrying group but that current measures of assessment are not sensitive enough to identify th em.