F071 Substance Use behaviour in Huntington’s disease: investigating the role of inhibitory control and perseveration

<h3>Background</h3> Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a genetic neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive, motor, psychiatric and behavioural symptoms (McColgan &amp; Tabrizi, 2018). Inhibitory control and perseveration are prevalent cognitive and neuropsychiatric features of HD that have been associated with substance use behaviour (SUB) (Chirokoff et al., 2024; Clancy et al., 2016; Mörkl et al., 2016; Zadegan et al., 2024). Substance abuse, a risk factor for neurodegeneration, has been associated with reduced age of motor symptom onset (AMO) and psychiatric symptom severity in individuals with HD (Byars et al., 2012; Ehret et al., 2007; Guo et al., 2023; Schultz et al., 2017). Neuronal damage in HD results in the deterioration of cortical-striatal circuits; which have been implicated in SUB, inhibitory control, and perseveration (Kravitz et al., 2015; Milton et al., 2020; Waldvogel et al., 2015; Xu et al., 2021). Therefore, longitudinal investigation of the effects of inhibitory control and perseveration on SUB in HD across disease progression may be important to understanding how early neurocognitive deficits could indirectly contribute to reduced AMO and psychiatric symptom severity in HD. <h3>Aims</h3> We aim to longitudinally investigate the relationship between inhibitory control, perseveration, and SUB in individuals with HD; and run a survival analysis. <h3>Methods</h3> We aim to conduct a retrospective longitudinal study using the Enroll-HD dataset. Perseveration and inhibitory control were assessed using the Problem Behaviours Assessment – Short (PBA-s) and Stroop Interference Test, respectively. Participants are divided by tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or absence of substance use. Longitudinal changes in SUB will be assessed using the Variable Items Forms. <h3>Results</h3> We aim to explore whether inhibitory control and perseveration have an effect on SUB in individuals with HD; and if so, whether perseveration moderates a relationship between inhibitory control and SUB. <h3>Conclusions</h3> We aim to further expand upon literature related to neurocognitive features of HD and their effect on substance use behaviour. <h3>References</h3> Byars JA, Beglinger LJ, Moser DJ, Gonzalez-Alegre P, Nopoulos P. Substance abuse may be a risk factor for earlier onset of Huntington disease. <i>Journal of Neurology</i>, 2012;<b>259</b>(9):1824–1831. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-012-6415-8. Chirokoff V, Pohl KM, Berthoz S, Fatseas M, Misdrahi D, Serre F, Auriacombe M, Pfefferbaum A, Sullivan EV, Chanraud S. 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