Plasma melatonin is reduced in Huntington's disease. Issue 12 (27th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kalliolia, Eirini; Silajdžić, Edina; Nambron, Rajasree; Hill, Nathan R.; Doshi, Anisha; Frost, Chris; Watt, Hilary; Hindmarsh, Peter; Björkqvist, Maria; Warner, Thomas T.
• Is Part Of: Movement disorders. Volume 29:Issue 12(2014)
• Page Start: 1511
• Page End: 1515
• Publication Date: 2014-08-27
• Subjects: Movement disorders -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1002/mds.26003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-3185

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>This study was undertaken to determine whether the production of melatonin, a hormone regulating sleep in relation to the light/dark cycle, is altered in Huntington's disease. We analyzed the circadian rhythm of melatonin in a 24‐hour study of cohorts of control, premanifest, and stage II/III Huntington's disease subjects. The mean and acrophase melatonin concentrations were significantly reduced in stage II/III Huntington's disease subjects compared with controls. We also observed a nonsignificant trend toward reduced mean and acrophase melatonin in premanifest Huntington's disease subjects. Onset of melatonin rise was significantly more temporally spread in both premanifest and stage II/III Huntington's disease subjects compared with controls. A nonsignificant trend also was seen for reduced pulsatile secretion of melatonin. Melatonin concentrations are reduced in Huntington's disease. Altered melatonin patterns may provide an explanation for disrupted sleep and circadian behavior in Huntington's disease, and represent a biomarker for disease state. Melatonin therapy may help the sleep disorders seen in Huntington's disease. © 2014 The Authors. <italic>Movement</italic> Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.</p> </abstract>