Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2026
Revised and Neuroimaging-Compatible Versions of the Dual Task Screen
Published on: October 5, 2020
The Effects of Dual-Task Cognitive Interference and Environmental Challenges on Balance in Huntington's Disease
Nicollette L Purcell1, Jennifer G Goldman2, Bichun Ouyang2
1Department of Cell and Molecular Medicine Rush University Medical Center Chicago IL USA.
Insights
Huntington's disease patients show impaired balance, especially during dual-task activities and with reduced sensory input. Cognitive deficits, particularly visuospatial, worsen postural control in HD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Physiology
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Huntington's disease (HD) causes motor and cognitive impairments, increasing fall risk.
- Dual-task (DT) challenges and sensory feedback impact balance in daily life.
- The relationship between cognitive deficits, balance, and falls in HD remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how dual-task (DT) interference, sensory feedback, and cognitive function affect balance and falls in Huntington's disease (HD).
Main Methods:
- Seventeen HD participants and 17 controls performed quantitative balance tests using APDM inertial sensors.
- Postural sway was measured under varying stance, vision, proprioception, and cognitive load conditions.
- A verbal fluency task served as the DT; neuropsychological tests assessed cognitive domains.
Main Results:
- HD participants displayed significantly increased postural sway, jerk, and variability in both single-task (ST) and DT conditions compared to controls.
- Vision removal exacerbated DT interference in HD participants.
- Reduced proprioception and vision significantly worsened postural control in HD patients.
- Poorer visuospatial performance correlated with increased sway and jerk in HD.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with Huntington's disease exhibit diminished postural control under DT conditions, with impaired responses to reduced proprioception and vision.
- Greater DT interference was observed in HD patients with narrowed base and absent vision.
- Findings suggest potential for targeted motor and cognitive interventions to enhance balance in HD.
Background:
Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by chorea, balance and gait impairments, and cognitive deficits, which increase fall risk. Dual task (DT) and environmentally challenging paradigms reflect balance related to everyday life. Furthermore, the impact of cognitive deficits on balance dysfunction and falls in HD is unknown.
Objective:
To determine the impact of DT interference, sensory feedback, and cognitive performance on balance and falls in HD.
Methods:
Seventeen participants with HD (55 ± 9.7 years) and 17 age-matched controls (56.5 ± 9.3 years) underwent quantitative balance testing with APDM inertial sensors. Postural sway was assessed during conditions of manipulated stance, vision, proprioception, and cognitive demand. The DT was a concurrent verbal fluency task. Neuropsychological assessments testing multiple cognitive domains were also administered.
Results:
HD participants exhibited significantly greater total sway area, jerk, and variability under single-task (ST) and DT conditions compared to controls (P = 0.0002 - < 0.0001). They also demonstrated greater DT interference with vision removed for total sway area (P = 0.01) and variability (P = 0.02). Significantly worse postural control was observed in HD with vision removed and reduced proprioception (P = 0.001 - 0.01). Decreased visuospatial performance correlated with greater total sway and jerk (P = 0.01; 0.009). No balance parameters correlated with retrospective falls in HD.
Conclusions:
HD participants have worse postural control under DT, limited proprioception/vision, and greater DT interference with a narrowed base and no visual input. These findings may have implications for designing motor and cognitive strategies to improve balance in HD.
