Differences in body sway can be identified in Huntington's disease using a practical balance assessment device

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor, cognitive, and psychiatric functions.
• Early detection and prediction of HD onset are crucial for management and intervention.
• Balance assessments offer a potential non-invasive method for monitoring disease progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of the Wii Balance Board (WBB) for assessing total body sway (TBS) in Huntington's disease gene carriers.
• To determine if TBS can differentiate between presymptomatic, prodromal, and manifest HD stages compared to normal controls.
• To establish TBS as a potential inexpensive and practical marker for HD onset and progression.

Main Methods:

• Assessed TBS in 64 HD gene carriers (Presymptomatic HD, Prodromal HD, HD) and 21 normal controls using a WBB.
• Participants underwent balance tests with varying conditions (eyes open/closed, stable/unstable surface).
• Non-parametric analyses were used to compare TBS across groups.

Main Results:

• The HD group exhibited significantly higher TBS than all other groups (NC, PsHD, ProHD).
• The Prodromal HD group showed significantly increased TBS compared to normal controls across all conditions.
• No significant TBS differences were found between normal controls and the Presymptomatic HD group.

Conclusions:

• Increased body sway, measured by WBB, may serve as a functional marker for Huntington's disease.
• Objective balance assessments can aid in identifying individuals transitioning to or in the early stages of HD.
• Further research is warranted to validate these findings and their clinical applicability.