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Decreased Physical Activity as an Early Digital Biomarker in Huntington's Disease: A One-Year Observational Study
Lucía Simón-Vicente1, Sara Calvo2, Natividad Mariscal3
1Health Science Department, University of Burgos, Burgos, Spain.
Insights
Reduced physical activity (PA) in Huntington's disease (HD) patients may signal early functional decline. Monitoring PA with wearable devices could help time interventions to slow disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gerontology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder impacting motor, cognitive, and psychiatric functions.
- Sarcopenia and reduced physical activity (PA) are common in HD, potentially exacerbating disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between clinical characteristics, sarcopenia, and PA levels in Huntington's disease patients.
- To explore the utility of wearable technology in monitoring PA changes over time in HD.
Main Methods:
- A 1-year observational study involving symptomatic, ambulatory HD patients.
- PA was tracked using Fitbit Charge 4; sarcopenia was assessed via muscle strength, quantity, and performance.
- Participants were clustered based on age, motor (Unified HD Rating Scale), and cognitive (Mini-Mental State Examination) function.
Main Results:
- Cluster 1 (better baseline function) showed decreased PA over 1 year (p=0.035); Cluster 2 (poorer baseline function) showed a negative trend for PA decrease (p=0.006).
- Sarcopenia was more prevalent in Cluster 2 (53%) at baseline compared to Cluster 1 (13%).
- Significant differences favoring Cluster 1 were found in muscle strength, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and SPPB scores.
Conclusions:
- Reduced PA, detected by wearable sensors, may be an early indicator of functional changes in HD.
- Identifying the onset of PA reduction is crucial for timely interventions to delay HD progression.
Introduction:
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and psychiatric disturbances. This study analyzed the relationship between clinical characteristics, sarcopenia, and physical activity (PA) levels in HD patients.
Methods:
A 1-year observational study was conducted with symptomatic, ambulatory HD patients, assessed at baseline and after 12 months. PA was monitored using a Fitbit Charge 4 activity tracker, and sarcopenia was determined through assessments of muscle strength, quantity, and physical performance. Participants were classified into two clusters based on age, motor (Unified HD Rating Scale), and cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination).
Results:
We included 33 subjects with HD, mean age 53 (40-60) years, 45.5% males, median TFC 9.5 (7-13). At baseline, Cluster 1 had better motor function, functional capacity, and less apathy with a positive trend for higher PA, compared with Cluster 2, which had a negative trend for decreased PA over time (p = 0.006). After 1 year, Cluster 1 showed a decrease in PA (p = 0.035), similar to Cluster 2. At baseline, 53% of participants in Cluster 2 presented probable or confirmed sarcopenia, compared with 13% in Cluster 1. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in muscle strength, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and SPPB scores, with higher values in Cluster 1.
Conclusions:
These preliminary findings suggest that a reduction in PA using wearable technology may be a potential early indicator of functional changes in HD. Identifying when PA reduction begins can help determine the timing of interventions aimed at delaying disease progression.
