FDA-Funded Study to Use Digital Sensors for Tracking Early Huntington's Disease Symptoms

An FDA-funded study led by Lori Quinn, Professor of Movement Science and Kinesiology at Teachers College, Columbia University, will explore the use of digital sensors to monitor early-stage symptoms of Huntington's Disease (HD). The research, conducted in partnership with Jamie Adams, a neurologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and scholars from the University of Massachusetts and Tel Aviv University, aims to improve the tracking of disease progression and facilitate the development of new therapies.

The Need for Improved Outcome Measures

Huntington's Disease, a rare neurodegenerative disorder, currently lacks a cure or approved disease-modifying interventions. A major obstacle in developing effective treatments is the difficulty in accurately tracking efficacy in drug trials. "In order to demonstrate that any intervention, whether it's a drug trial or physical therapy-based, is effective, you have to have good outcome measures," explains Quinn. Current drug trials often rely on brain imaging, which can be costly and may not always provide clear insights into the cause of observed changes.

Digital Sensors for Symptom Tracking

The study will utilize wearable digital sensors to continuously monitor and measure changes in gait and chorea, two key symptoms of Huntington's Disease. Researchers will collect data from wrist and trunk sensors worn by participants with early-stage HD and a control group. This data will then be analyzed using a novel symptom mapping approach to ensure the measures are meaningful to participants. The FDA is supporting this research with $2.2 million in funding over two years through its Digital Health Technologies for Drug Development program.

Potential Impact on Clinical Trials

The research team aims to develop sensitive outcome markers that can be leveraged in a wide range of clinical studies. "We hope we'll be developing the standards for digital technology in all clinical trials in Huntington's," says Quinn. The use of wearable technology offers a more affordable and accessible method for tracking disease progression, potentially accelerating the development of new therapies.

Broader Applications

The potential applications of this research extend beyond Huntington's Disease. Quinn notes that wearable data could be used to monitor and manage other conditions, such as Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease. The development of standards for digital technology in clinical trials could have a broad impact on healthcare and research.