WHICH DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES IN THE ELDERLY - THE CASE OF LATE-ONSET HUNTINGTONS-DISEASE

The typical adult-onset form of Huntington's disease (HD) is a clinica l condition in which the latest advances of genetic research can be us efully applied during the course of the diagnostic process; not so cle ar are the guidelines for the much less frequent late-onset variant. W e have recently seen three patients in their late sixties who had been misdiagnosed for up to 10 years due to the apparently isolated, mild, and slowly progressive nature of their hyperkinetic movements or cogn itive disorders. Only after the results of DNA sequencing on a blood s ample became available could the appropriate diagnosis of late-onset H D be reached. By contrast, neuroimaging studies lacked sufficient sens itivity and specificity. Appropriate neurogeriatric assessment in thes e cases should follow specific guidelines and should always include se lected high-technology procedures.