Tacrine improves Huntington's chorea

Since hyperkinesia in Huntington's disease (HD) is at least in part due to a degeneration of the cholinergic system, we undertook an open pilot trial testing the effect of the cholinesterase inhibitor Tacrine in patients with genetically proven Huntington's disease. The extent of hyperkinesia was assessed while the patient was (i) off medication, (ii) on Tacrine alone and, in 3 patients, (II) on Tacrine and Perphenacine. Tacrine significantly reduced hyperkinesias, with only a slight additional benefit for the combined therapy. We conclude that there is a potential benefit of cholinesterase inhibitors in HD that should be evaluated in randomised, double-blind clinical trials.