Computed tomography (CT) scanning technology was discovered in 1972 and revolutionized the world of neuroimaging (Sadock, Sadock, & Ruiz, 2014). The CT scan was the first technique to allow the imaging of brain tissue in living patients (Sadock, Sadock, & Ruiz, 2014). During a CT scan, a patient lies on a flat surface, which incrementally moves through what is referred to as a gantry (Sadock, Sadock, & Ruiz, 2014). A gantry is a round shaped structure that contains a motorized x-ray source (Sadock, Sadock, & Ruiz, 2014). This x-ray source rotates around the patient several times to obtain axial images at each degree around an individual’s head (Sadock, Sadock, & Ruiz, 2014). At each angle, the specific amount of radiation that is not absorbed
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Several pharmacological agents are used to treat the chorea associated with Huntington’s disease (Videnovic, 2013). Tetrabenazine is an antidopaminergic agent that has proved to be effective in treating chorea in individuals with Huntington’s disease. N-methyl-D-Aspartic acid receptor antagonists such as amantadine and memantine are also prescribed by physicians to treat chorea. Another common way physicians try to treat chorea is with the use of antipsychotic agents (Videnovic, 2013). Medications such as haloperidol, clozapine, risperidone, aripiprazole, and olanzapine are examples of antipsychotics that are often used to treat chorea (Videnovic, 2013). Some of these medications have also proved to be effective in treating psychosis in patients with Huntington’s disease. The behavioral or psychiatric symptoms correlated with this disease are often treated with anti-depressants and anti-psychotics (Videnovic, 2013). Rivastigmine and donepezil are the only two pharmacological agents use to treat the cognitive dysfunction seen in Huntington’s disease (Videnovic, 2013). Physicians most commonly prescribe antipsychotics and tetrabenazine in conjunction with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to treat the chorea and psychiatric concerns (Videnovic,
Several pharmacological agents are used to treat the chorea associated with Huntington’s disease (Videnovic, 2013). Tetrabenazine is an antidopaminergic agent that has proved to be effective in treating chorea in individuals with Huntington’s disease. N-methyl-D-Aspartic acid receptor antagonists such as amantadine and memantine are also prescribed by physicians to treat chorea. Another common way physicians try to treat chorea is with the use of antipsychotic agents (Videnovic, 2013). Medications such as haloperidol, clozapine, risperidone, aripiprazole, and olanzapine are examples of antipsychotics that are often used to treat chorea (Videnovic, 2013). Some of these medications have also proved to be effective in treating psychosis in patients with Huntington’s disease. The behavioral or psychiatric symptoms correlated with this disease are often treated with anti-depressants and anti-psychotics (Videnovic, 2013). Rivastigmine and donepezil are the only two pharmacological agents use to treat the cognitive dysfunction seen in Huntington’s disease (Videnovic, 2013). Physicians most commonly prescribe antipsychotics and tetrabenazine in conjunction with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to treat the chorea and psychiatric concerns (Videnovic,