Accelerometer-based measures in Friedreich ataxia: a longitudinal study on real-life activity

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Quantitative physical activity measurement offers insights into daily life for neurological conditions.
• Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is a rare inherited disease affecting motor function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate longitudinal changes in physical activity in FRDA patients using wearable sensors.
• To assess the correlation between physical activity, clinical status, and disease progression in FRDA.

Main Methods:

• An observational study involving 26 adult FRDA patients and 13 healthy controls (CTR).
• Participants wore wrist and waist sensors for 7 days at baseline and 1-year follow-up.
• Analysis included time in sedentary/physical activities, Vector Magnitude (VM3), steps/min, and clinical ataxia scales.

Main Results:

• FRDA patients exhibited reduced physical activity compared to controls at baseline.
• Accelerometer measures correlated with clinical scales and disease duration.
• Significant changes in VM3, sedentary time, and Moderate-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) were observed over 1 year.
• Decreased physical activity corresponded with worsened gait scores.

Conclusions:

• Remote monitoring with wearable sensors is feasible and well-tolerated in FRDA patients.
• Accelerometer-based measures objectively quantify disease progression over time in FRDA.
• These data support the use of physical activity monitoring as a complementary outcome in clinical trials.