Comparing three social cognition tests in adults with early Huntington disease
The Social-HD Study: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study of Social Cognition in Early Huntington Disease
This project will test whether the DMASC-MC and two established social cognition tests can detect social thinking problems in adults with early Huntington disease.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Region Skane Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Lund) |
| Trial ID | NCT07253038 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study will enroll 20 adults with early Huntington disease and 20 age- and sex-matched control participants to compare performance on three social cognition measures. Participants will complete the Double Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition-Multiple Choice (DMASC-MC), the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, and the Emotion Hexagon Test, and will be assessed by a physician and a psychologist. Inclusion requires a clinical HD diagnosis with CAG ≥40 for the HD group and no family history or a negative pre-symptomatic gene test for controls, with exclusions for dementia (MOCA or MMSE <19), other neurological disorders, active psychosis, substance addiction, non-Swedish native language, or severe sensory deficits. The design is cross-sectional and powered for group differences between early HD and matched controls.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with clinically diagnosed early-stage Huntington disease (CAG ≥40), fluent in Swedish, without dementia (MOCA/MMSE ≥19), and willing to attend assessments at the study site.
Not a fit: People with advanced cognitive impairment (MOCA/MMSE <19), active psychosis, substance addiction, other neurologic disorders, or who are not native Swedish speakers are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If DMASC-MC proves sensitive, clinicians could better detect early social cognition problems and tailor support for people with early Huntington disease.
How similar studies have performed: Related social cognition tests have revealed deficits in Huntington disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, but the DMASC-MC is relatively new and has not been widely validated in HD.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion criteria for persons with HD 1. Clinical diagnosis of HD 2. CAG repeat: 40 and more Inclusion criteria for control group 1\. No heritage of HD or negative pre-symptomatic HD gene test Exclusion Criteria: Participants in both groups are excluded from the study if any of the following criteria apply: 1. Dementia or MOCA\<19, The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) \<19 2. Other neurological disorders 3. Ongoing psychosis 4. Ongoing alcohol/drug addiction 5. Other native language than Swedish 6. Severe problems with vision and hearing
Where this trial is running
Lund
- Skane University Hospital, Region Skane — Lund, Sweden (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Asa Petersen, MD PhD — Department of Psychiatry, Skåne University Hospital
- Study coordinator: Asa Petersen, MD, PhD
- Email: asa.petersen@med.lu.se
- Phone: +46462221686
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.