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Walking-Related Dual-Task Interference in Early-to-Middle-Stage Huntington's Disease: An Auditory Event Related
Marina de Tommaso1, Katia Ricci1, Anna Montemurno1
1Neurophysiopathology of Pain, Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sensory System Department-SMBNOS-Bari Aldo Moro UniversityBari, Italy.
Insights
Walking enhances P3 brainwave amplitude in both Huntington's disease (HD) patients and controls during auditory tasks. This finding suggests concurrent motor and cognitive stimulation may aid in rehabilitation and neural circuit integration.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Physiology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor and cognitive functions.
- Investigating cognitive-motor interference is crucial for understanding HD progression and developing interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the interference between walking and a P3 auditory odd-ball paradigm in HD patients and healthy controls.
- To explore the impact of concurrent motor and cognitive tasks on neural activity and its correlation with clinical features in HD.
Main Methods:
- EEG-EMG recordings were obtained from 24 early-to-middle-stage HD patients and 14 healthy controls during standing and walking.
- A P3 auditory odd-ball paradigm was used, with artifact-free recordings analyzed for P3 wave amplitude/latency and spectral values.
- Correlations were made between neural measures, walking condition, and clinical HD features.
Main Results:
- Walking significantly increased P3 amplitude in both HD patients and controls.
- Increased P3 amplitude during walking in HD patients inversely correlated with motor impairment.
- HD patients exhibited increased beta-band power over parieto-occipital regions while walking during the P3 task.
- Concurrent motor and cognitive demands did not compromise walking speed or stimulus counting.
Conclusions:
- Walking enhances P3 amplitude in an auditory task for both HD patients and controls.
- Concurrent cognitive and motor stimulation may serve rehabilitative purposes by enhancing cortical compensatory reserves.
- This approach could promote the integration of neuronal circuits, counteracting interference and supporting functional recovery.
Abstract:
Objective: To compare interference between walking and a simple P3 auditory odd-ball paradigm in patients with Huntington's disease (HD) and age- and sex-matched controls. Methods: Twenty-four early-to-middle-stage HD patients and 14 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were examined. EEG-EMG recordings were obtained from 21 scalp electrodes and eight bipolar derivations from the legs. Principal component analysis was used to obtain artifact-free recordings. The stimulation paradigm consisted of 50 rare and 150 frequent stimuli and was performed in two conditions: standing and walking along a 10 by 5 m path. P3 wave amplitude and latency and EEG and EMG spectral values were compared by group and experimental condition and correlated with clinical features of HD. Results: P3 amplitude increased during walking in both HD patients and controls. This effect was inversely correlated with motor impairment in HD patients, who showed a beta-band power increase over the parieto-occipital regions in the walking condition during the P3 task. Walking speed and counting of rare stimuli were not compromised by concurrence of motor and cognitive demands. Conclusion: Our results showed that walking increased P3 amplitude in an auditory task, in both HD patients and controls. Concurrent cognitive and motor stimulation could be used for rehabilitative purposes as a means of enhancing activation of cortical compensatory reserves, counteracting potential negative interference and promoting the integration of neuronal circuits serving different functions.
