£16 million European collaboration aims to improve quality of life for people with neurodegenerative diseases

Researchers in the Centre for Trials Research (CTR) at Cardiff University are exploring how digital technologies, such as wearable fitness trackers, can be used to support people with Huntington’s disease.

As part of a £16 million collaboration to address the health and social care of people with diseases of the brain, Professor Monica Busse, director for Mind, Brain, Neuroscience Trials at CTR, will lead an international team who will assess how sleep, nutrition and physical activity impact Huntington’s disease. The Multi-Domain Lifestyle Targets for Improving ProgNOsis (DOMINO HD) research team will also look at developing new ways to help people manage symptoms.

Huntington’s disease is an inherited neurological condition that causes difficulties with movement and coordination. It also causes cognitive impairment that gets worse over time. There are currently no treatments for the condition.

Professor Busse said: “This project joins our growing portfolio of research in the area of Huntington’s disease, working closely with patients and members of the public, and is an important step with the potential to contribute significantly to our knowledge and treatment of Huntington’s disease, and the growing problem of dementia.”

Health and Care Research Wales, along with Department of Health and Social Care England, Alzheimer’s Society and Health and Social Care Northern Ireland, has committed £2.15 million to the Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease (JPND) funding awards which fund this new research. JPND is the largest global research initiative aimed at tackling the challenges of neurodegenerative diseases.

The team in Wales will lead a consortium across Europe which includes Ireland, Spain, Poland, Germany and Switzerland.

First published: @ResearchWales Issue 6, June 2019