Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Autobiographical Memory, Future Thought, and Eye Movements in Huntington's Disease

This study aims to understand how Huntington's disease (HD) affects personal memory, like recalling past life events, and the ability to think about the future. We know that HD can cause problems with memory and thinking, but personal memories and future planning haven't been fully explored. This research will use special eye-tracking cameras along with standard memory tests to see how people with HD remember things and imagine what's to come. By looking at eye movements, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of memory changes in HD, which could help in developing better ways to diagnose memory issues and support people living with the condition.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University Hospital, Angers

Enrolment target

Start

01 Apr 2026

Estimated completion

01 Apr 2029

Huntington Disease Autobiographical Memory

What is this study about?

Huntington's disease is a condition that runs in families and can gradually affect how the brain works, leading to changes in movement, thinking, and mood. One of the early signs of HD can be difficulties with thinking and memory. This study is particularly interested in two types of memory: 'autobiographical memory,' which is about remembering your own life experiences and facts about yourself, and 'future thought,' which is your ability to imagine and plan for future events.

While we know HD affects many aspects of memory, how it impacts personal memories and thinking about the future hasn't been looked at in great detail. These kinds of memories are really important for our sense of who we are and for planning our lives. By understanding these specific challenges better, we hope to find new ways to help people with HD.

This research will use a combination of standard memory tests and a special 'eye-tracking' system. Eye-tracking involves using cameras to carefully watch how your eyes move while you're doing memory tasks. Previous studies have shown that eye movements can tell us a lot about how people are thinking and remembering, especially for visual memories. We believe that by combining these methods, we can get a much clearer picture of how HD affects personal memory and planning for the future, which could lead to better tools for diagnosis and new ways to support people's memory functions.

Key takeaways

The study explores personal memory (your life story) and future planning in Huntington's disease.
It uses eye-tracking technology and standard memory tests to understand brain changes.
The goal is to improve diagnosis and support for memory in HD.
You won't receive any new medication or treatment as part of this study.
Participation involves completing memory tasks and having your eye movements recorded.
Both people with HD and healthy volunteers are needed.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you need to be an adult. If you have Huntington's disease, it must have been diagnosed and confirmed by a genetic test. You could be in the very early stages of the disease (pre-symptomatic) or in the early to mid-symptomatic stages (stage 1 or 2).

We are also looking for healthy adults to join the study, who do not have any brain or nerve conditions. These healthy volunteers should be similar in age, sex, and education level to the participants with Huntington's disease, so we can compare the results fairly. All participants must be able to give their informed consent, meaning they understand what the study involves and agree to take part, or have a legal representative give consent for them if needed.

Every participant, whether with Huntington's disease or a healthy volunteer, needs to be part of a social security system here in the UK. Also, if you're joining as a healthy volunteer, you'll need to score 24 or more out of 30 on a common memory and thinking test called the MMSE, to ensure your general thinking abilities are within a normal range.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you an adult aged 18 or over?
If you have Huntington's disease, is your diagnosis confirmed by a genetic test, and are you in an early stage?
If you don't have HD, do you have no history of major neurological problems?
Are you willing and able to give your informed consent?
Are you part of a UK social security system?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you would visit a research centre. During your visit, you would complete various neuropsychological tests, which are like puzzles and questions designed to check different aspects of your memory and thinking. You would also use an eye-tracking system, where special cameras would observe your eye movements while you complete some of these tasks. This helps us understand how your eyes react while you're remembering and thinking. The researchers will explain exactly what each test involves. There is no medication given as part of this study, and the total duration of your involvement, including all visits and assessments, will be explained fully by the study team.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might offer a small benefit of contributing to a better understanding of Huntington's disease, which could help future patients. There are no direct medical benefits to you personally. Potential risks are generally low, mainly related to the time commitment and any mild fatigue from completing the tests. You can stop taking part in the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care or relationship with your doctors.

Locations (1)

CHU Angers
Verified postcode
Angers, France

Common questions

What is 'autobiographical memory'?

It's your memory for your own life story, like remembering where you went to school or what you did last summer.

What is 'future thought'?

This is your ability to imagine and plan for things that haven't happened yet, like thinking about a future holiday.

What is 'eye tracking'?

It's a technology that uses cameras to measure where your eyes are looking and how they move while you're doing tasks.

Will I receive any treatment in this study?

No, this study is about understanding memory and thinking; it does not involve any new treatments or medication.

How long will my involvement in the study last?

The study team will tell you the exact time commitment, which usually involves one or more research visits.

How to find out more

Philippe ALLAIN, Professor

phallain@chu-angers.fr +332 41 35 62 14 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.