A team of researchers from the Cognition and Brain Plasticity group at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) and the University of Barcelona (UB) has discovered that an intellectually active lifestyle, or in other words, cognitive reserve, has a protective effect on the progression and severity of the three types of symptoms of Huntington’s disease.
Years ago, the same group had elucidated that this lifestyle provided benefits in cognitive symptoms, but in the new study published in ‘Scientific Reports’ they demonstrate the transfer of these effects to the other two clinical domains of Huntington’s patients: motor and psychiatric.
Huntington’s disease is a very serious neurodegenerative disorder of genetic origin that begins in adulthood, normally around the age of 40. In those affected, a progressive and constant neuronal degeneration occurs, which ends up manifesting itself in a triad of highly disabling motor, cognitive and psychiatric disorders.
The genetic cause has been known for some time and a test is available that allows carriers to be identified before the onset of symptoms, but, unfortunately, this disease still has no cure.
To make this discovery, the predoctoral researcher Audrey De Paepe and other researchers led by Dr. Estela CÃ mara evaluated the cognitive reserve of a group of patients, through factors such as the level of education, professional occupation, academic and musical courses, the number of languages, reading activity or the frequency with which intellectually complex games such as chess were played.
This information was complemented with neuroimaging tests in relation to the intellectual activity developed throughout life. Models were also created to see if there were differences in the typical symptoms of the disease according to the cognitive lifestyle of the participants.
A NEW WAY OF UNDERSTANDING HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE
As expected, the results have confirmed that greater mental activity throughout life is a protective factor against neurodegeneration, and allows for maintaining a good brain state for longer.
In those affected by Huntington’s, this seems to translate into a later appearance of symptoms of cognitive, motor and psychiatric deterioration, possibly due to less brain damage. This would probably allow us to understand part of the differences that had been found in the clinical trajectory of patients with this disease.
Thus, this research has significant implications for the management of Huntington’s disease, as it shows that patients can apply certain preventive strategies to try to potentially slow down or delay the progression of the disease (even before diagnosis).
In addition, it highlights the importance of maintaining good brain health through a cognitively active lifestyle, which is not only beneficial for patients with neurodegenerative diseases but also for the general population.
