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February 2, 2026Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology0 citationsOpen Access

Functional and Structural Evidence of Neurofluid Circuit Aberrations in Huntington Disease

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KHKilian HettADAbigail DuboisMLMelanie Leguizamon

Key Points

  • This research evaluates neurofluid system disruptions in Huntington disease and their relation to disease severity.
  • Assessments of PSD and ChP volumes using deep learning on MRI scans.
  • Measurement of CSF flow dynamics at the cerebral aqueduct through phase contrast MRI.
  • Quantification of ChP perfusion via arterial spin labeling MRI.
  • Statistical analysis using linear regression to link neurofluid alterations with disease characteristics.
  • Huntington disease participants had larger ChP and PSD volumes compared to healthy controls.
  • There was a significant reduction in ChP perfusion in Huntington disease participants.
  • A correlation was found between greater CAG repeat expansion and increased ChP and PSD volume with decreased perfusion.
  • These structural and functional changes were linked to greater motor impairment.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective Disrupted neurofluid regulation may contribute to neurodegeneration in Huntington disease (HD). Because neurofluid pathways influence waste clearance, inflammation, and the distribution of central nervous system (CNS)–delivered therapeutics, understanding their dysfunction is increasingly important as targeted treatments emerge. We aimed to evaluate structural and physiological changes in two key neurofluid components, the choroid plexus (ChP), which produces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and the parasagittal dural (PSD) space, a major CSF outflow pathway, across the HD spectrum and in relation to CSF flow dynamics. Methods PSD and ChP volumes were assessed using a validated deep learning pipeline on 3‐Tesla T 2 ‐weighted and FLAIR MRI. CSF flow at the cerebral aqueduct was measured with phase contrast MRI, and ChP perfusion was quantified using pseudo‐continuous arterial spin labeling MRI. Linear regression models assessed the relationships between PSD and ChP volume, CSF flow kinetics, ChP hemodynamics, disease severity, disease exposure, and disease presentation, adjusting for age, sex, and intracranial volume. Results 80 HD participants and 65 age‐matched healthy controls were included. HD showed significantly larger ChP and PSD volumes ( p < 0.01) and reduced ChP perfusion ( p < 0.01). Greater CAG repeat expansion correlated with larger PSD and ChP volume and lower ChP perfusion ( p < 0.01). These alterations were associated with worse motor impairment ( p < 0.01). Interpretation HD is associated with structural and functional alterations in neurofluid pathways. These findings suggest relevance for disease mechanisms and for optimizing CSF‐based therapeutic delivery, highlighting the need for further mechanistic studies.

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Cite This Study

Hett et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6981020cc1c9540dea8133efhttps://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.70328
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