Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to find out if there is a connection between the naturally occurring bacteria in our bodies and the progression of Huntington disease. The investigators are trying to determine if patients who are diagnosed with adult-onset HD and who exhibit a rapid rate of disease progression have unique populations of bacteria in their gut as compared to patients with slower progression.
Eligibility Criteria
* Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years or older * Provide informed consent * Able to read and speak English * Agree to comply with study procedures * Inclusion criteria for the control group include: * CAG repeat length ≤ 26. * BMI 18.5-24.9 * Inclusion criteria for experimental group 1 include: * BMI \< 18.5 (underweight) or significant, involuntary weight loss within the past 12 months. * CAG repeat length 40 - 59. * Documentation of the Clinical Diagnosis of HD with a high level of certainty (\>99% confidence) using the validated Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS). * Stage I-III on the Functional Assessment component of the UHDRS * Inclusion criteria for experimental group 2 include: * BMI \> 25.0 (overweight - obesity) or BMI ≤ 25.0 with significant, unexplained weight gain within the past 12 months * CAG repeat length 40 - 59. * Documentation of the Clinical Diagnosis of HD with a high level of certainty (\>99% confidence) using the validated UHDRS. * Stage I-III on the F