Supplement Shows Promise for Huntington’s

A diagnosis of Huntington’s disease is a slow-motion death sentence. Each year brings less muscle coordination and deeper mental problems, with little promise of a cure or even a good treatment. Symptoms of the genetic disorder usually strike in the prime of adult life, and sufferers usually die within 20 years of being diagnosed.

But last week, Huntington’s sufferers got a break from the bad news. In a study of 347 early-stage patients, neurologists found that a popular nutritional supplement called coenzyme Q10 appeared to slow the progression of the disease, by 13% on average, over 21/2 years.

Compared with a group of patients who were not taking the supplement, those who took 600 milligrams a day of coenzyme Q10 were less irritable and moody.

The study, published in the August issue of Neurology, was not large enough to be conclusive, researchers said, and no one knows what the supplement’s longer-term side effects could be.

But coenzyme Q10 is widely available at stores selling vitamins and natural remedies. Although researchers do not yet recommend widespread use, if the findings hold up in further studies, the 13% slowing in decline could give Huntington’s patients another year of independence, doctors estimate.