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Objective assessment of progression in Huntington's disease: a 3-year follow-up study
R Reilmann1, F Kirsten, L Quinn
1Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Insights
Grip force variability may track Huntington's disease (HD) progression. In a 3-year study, increased grip force variability was observed in HD patients, suggesting it as a potential objective measure for motor deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Movement Disorders
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
- Objective measures are needed to quantify motor deficits and disease progression in HD.
- Previous research linked higher Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) motor scores to increased grip force variability in HD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the longitudinal changes in grip force variability in patients with Huntington's disease.
- To determine if grip force variability can serve as a quantitative marker for HD progression.
Main Methods:
- Grip force variability was measured during an isometric grasping task.
- The study involved 10 patients diagnosed with Huntington's disease.
- Data were collected at baseline and after a 3-year follow-up period.
Main Results:
- Grip force variability significantly increased in all participating HD patients over the 3-year follow-up.
- This increase suggests a worsening of motor control as the disease progresses.
Conclusions:
- Grip force variability during grasping is a sensitive and objective measure.
- This measure shows potential for monitoring the progression of motor deficits in Huntington's disease.
- Further research can validate grip force variability as a clinical tool for HD management.
Abstract:
Objective measures to assess progression of Huntington's disease (HD) are desirable. The authors have previously found that patients with HD with higher Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) motor scores exhibited higher variability of isometric grip forces while grasping an object. Therefore, the authors assessed grip force variability during this task in 10 HD patients with a 3-year follow-up. Grip force variability increased in all patients at the follow-up. Thus, grip force variability during grasping might be an objective and quantitative measure to assess motor deficits associated with the progression of HD.