Gut Microbiomes in HD

Eligibility 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 Functional Assessment component of the UHDRS
• *
• * CAG repeat length ≥ 60 to exclude participants with juvenile onset HD.
• * CAG repeat length 36 - 39 to exclude participants with reduced penetrance. As this is a pilot study, we are primarily interested in participants with typical HD characteristics.
• * UHDRS Functional Capacity stage ≥ 4 to exclude late-stage HD patients who may be institutionalized and receive nutrition through a feeding tube.
• * Use of any of the following drugs within the last 6 months:
• * System antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, or anti-parasitics (intravenous, intramuscular, or oral)
• * Corticosteroids (intravenous, intramuscular, oral, nasal, or inhaled)
• * Cytokines
• * Methotrexate, immunosuppressive cytotoxic agents, or chemotherapy
• * Commercial probiotics ≥ 100 million CFU (fermented foods, yogurts, and other homeopathic probiotics and prebiotics do not apply)
• * Use of topical antibiotics or topical steroids within the last 7 days
• * History of active, uncontrolled gastrointestinal disorders or diseases, including:
• * Inflammatory bowel disease
• * Ulcerative colitis
• * Crohn's disease
• * Irritable bowel syndrome
• * Infectious gastroenteritis, colitis, or gastritis
• * Clostridium difficile or Helicobacter pylori infection
• * Persistent or chronic constipation or diarrhea
• * Acute illness with or without fever at time of sample collection
• * Positive for HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C
• * Confirmed or suspected immunodeficient condition/state
• * Major surgery of the GI tract, excluding cholecystectomy and appendectomy
• * Unstable dietary history within the past month, such as elimination or significant increase of a major food group in the diet
• * Recent history of chronic, excessive alcohol consumption
• * Travel outside of the United States within the last 3 months