Clinical Research Directory

Comparison of Two Cognitive-Motor Rehabilitation Approaches Via Exergames: a Study of Cognitive, Motor and Behavioral Functions in Huntington's Disease Patients

Huntington's disease (HD) is a rare, hereditary neurodegenerative disorder. It generally manifests itself between the ages of 40 and 50, and results in motor impairment (choreic movements, balance disorders, gait disorders, etc.), cognitive impairment (executive functions, attention, etc.) and behavioral impairment (apathy, depression, irritability, etc.). To date, there is no curative treatment for HD, and drug therapies have little effect on symptomatology, particularly motor symptoms. Physical activity and cognitive stimulation appear to be promising tools in the fight against the progression of various symptoms in certain progressive neurological conditions, including HD. In addition, the use of exergame as an interface is becoming increasingly widespread and offers encouraging prospects in the management of certain neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spinocerebellar ataxia type 3). The aim of our project is to carry out a preliminary evaluation of the clinical benefit of a management program combining physical activity and cognitive stimulation, compared with a sequential management program.

Facilitating Effective Eating With DoddleBags: A Single-Arm Acceptability Study Of DoddleBags to Assess Impact on Self Feeding Behaviours in a Huntington's Disease Population

Primary Objectives * To assess the acceptability of using the DoddleBags feeding aid in people with HD, by using a food diary to track food intake and using semi-structured interviews to ask questions about how easy or difficult it was to use a DoddleBag for each meal compared to not using one, and learn more about the impact of using DoddleBags on self-feeding behaviours. * To review the impact of using DoddleBags during mealtimes on the weight and BMI of each participant. * To review the impact of using DoddleBags during mealtimes on episodes of choking of each participant. Secondary Objectives * To evaluate the impact of using DoddleBags on participants' attitudes towards mealtimes and eating, using a short battery of mood and eating questionnaires. * To measure how incorporating DoddleBags into mealtimes affects participants' perceived quality of life, using a short battery of mood and eating questionnaires. * To assess the acceptability of the short battery of mood and eating questionnaires within a population of people with HD.

Social Cognition Training in Individuals With Huntington's Disease

Individuals with Huntington's Disease have impaired social cognition, which is the domain of cognition that allows individuals to understand others' perspectives so that they can navigate interpersonal actions successfully (e.g., understanding someone may be sad based of their facial emotion or tone of voice and then responding in a sympathetic manner). Impaired social cognition is associated with impaired social functioning, poor psychological wellbeing and increased caregiver burden, which is known to be significant among those who care for individuals with Huntington's Disease. Computerized social cognition training has been shown to improve social cognition in individuals with schizophrenia, who, like individuals with Huntington's disease, have cognitive impairments. The investigators propose a pilot study of computerized social cognition training in individuals with Huntington's disease. This will be a feasibility study that aims to show that social cognition training in HD can be studied in preparation for a larger randomized controlled trial. The investigators hypothesize that social cognition training can improve social cognition, social functioning, and quality of life in individuals with Huntington's Disease and decrease caregiver burden among those who care for individuals with Huntington's Disease.