A NEW drug treatment for the degenerative neurological condition Huntington's Disease is to be trialled in Glasgow.

Two new drugs, which manufacturers at Wave Life Sciences believe could target the faulty gene that causes the condition, are being tried out at a number of locations across the world.

A number of patients with early onset symptoms of Huntington's Disease have already been chosen to take part in the trial at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

Lead researcher Dr Stuart Ritchie said: "I am very excited Glasgow has been chosen to take part in this early stage drug trial.

"The Huntington's Disease community in the West of Scotland now have the opportunity to be involved in these groundbreaking research programmes."

Huntington's Disease affects parts of the brain, with sufferers experiencing symptoms including stumbling and clumsiness, involuntary jerking or fidgety movements of the limbs and body, and mood swings and personality changes.

They can also be liable to have difficulty concentrating and memory lapses, depression and eventually develop problems with swallowing, speaking and breathing.

The disease is inherited, with sufferers usually starting to experience symptoms between the ages of 30 and 50, with the condition often fatal after up to 20 years.

An estimated 1,100 people in Scotland are living with the condition.

US-based firm Wave Life Sciences is focused on developing new therapies for patients with such serious genetic disorders.

Michael Panzara from the company said: "Wave's Precision-HD programme is the first to target the underlying cause of Huntington's Disease.

"These investigational compounds have the potential to address a critical unmet need for the HD patient community where no disease-modifying treatments are currently approved."

The trials of the new treatment are expected to take approximately a year, with the company anticipating the results to be released in the first half of 2019.

Scottish Huntington's Association chief executive John Eden said: "Although every step closer to an effective treatment is fantastic news, it is important to remember that many thousands of people will continue to live with this condition.

"Their families will continue to need support, and we will need to continue to help improve their quality of life any way we can."