Final answer:
Atrophy associated with Huntington's disease primarily occurs in the cortex and striatum of the brain, impacting GABAergic medium-sized spiny neurons and leading to various symptoms, including movement disorders and cognitive decline.
Step-by-step explanation:
The part of the brain that shows the atrophy associated with Huntington's disease is mostly in the cortex and the striatum. Huntington's disease leads to the progressive degeneration of certain neurons in the brain. This condition features the loss of GABAergic medium-sized spiny neurons within the striatum, which are vital for the regulation of movement and coordination.
The mutation responsible for Huntington's disease results in an abnormal protein that adversely affects neuronal function and survival. As a result, individuals with Huntington's disease experience a range of physical, psychological, and cognitive symptoms. Among these are involuntary movements, difficulty in controlling voluntary movements, and cognitive decline. Despite advancements, the exact cellular mechanisms of neuronal death remain an area of ongoing research.