Which neurotransmitter is associated with Huntington's disease and addiction?

Which neurotransmitter is associated with Huntington's disease and addiction?

• A. GABA
• B. Norepinephrine
• C. Acetylcholine
• D. Dopamine

Answer: (A)

GABA is the key neurotransmitter here. In Huntington's disease, there is selective degeneration of GABAergic medium spiny neurons in the striatum, which reduces inhibitory GABA signaling to downstream pathways. This loss of inhibition disrupts the balance of circuits that control movement, leading to the characteristic chorea. GABA also plays a modulatory role in reward pathways; its inhibitory influence on dopaminergic systems is part of how addiction alters dopamine signaling. So the strongest link to Huntington's pathology—and its connection to addictive processes via the reward circuitry—involves GABA. Dopamine is central to addiction, but the defining feature of Huntington's involves loss of GABAergic neurons, making GABA the most directly associated neurotransmitter in this context.

GABA is the key neurotransmitter here. In Huntington's disease, there is selective degeneration of GABAergic medium spiny neurons in the striatum, which reduces inhibitory GABA signaling to downstream pathways. This loss of inhibition disrupts the balance of circuits that control movement, leading to the characteristic chorea. GABA also plays a modulatory role in reward pathways; its inhibitory influence on dopaminergic systems is part of how addiction alters dopamine signaling. So the strongest link to Huntington's pathology—and its connection to addictive processes via the reward circuitry—involves GABA. Dopamine is central to addiction, but the defining feature of Huntington's involves loss of GABAergic neurons, making GABA the most directly associated neurotransmitter in this context.