Brain games now the way for Huntington’s patients
A university researcher has discovered the benefits of computer game training for brain disease patients, to alleviate their symptoms and improve their skills. Mark Smith finds out about the doctor’s pioneering work
PATIENTS with a debilitating brain disease are set to take part in an innovative study that will use computer games to try to help with their movement and thinking.
Dr Emma Yhnell, based at the Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute and the South East Wales Trials Unit, Centre for Trials Research at Cardiff University, said it is the first time “brain games” have been used to help people with Huntington’s disease (HD).
Often known as Huntington’s chorea because of the movement problems it causes, Huntington’s disease is an inherited condition that damages certain nerve cells in the brain and leads to problems with movement, thinking and perception.
An estimated one in 10,000 people are diagnosed with the incurable condition, which is often managed through medication.
It typically affects people in their thirties and forties and causes involuntary body movements – much like Parkinson’s disease – which can look like jerky dancing.
In a bid to help reduce these movements and improve thinking skills, Dr Yhnell has been awarded a prestigious Health Fellowship Award from Health and Care Research Wales to carry out a three-year study in to the effects of these computer games.
She said: “Using computer game brain training for people with Huntington’s disease has not been done before.
“Based on pre-clinical work and research in to other brain diseases, we think that computer game brain training has the potential to be beneficial in Huntington’s disease, but we have to test this to be sure.”
Participants in the study will be using a cognitive training software called HAPPYneuron.
At the beginning of the study, participants will be asked to complete a series of tasks which test their memory and attention to determine any specific cognitive impairments.
Following this initial assessment, a programme of computer tasks will then be designed and personalised for each participant, with the aim of improving these skills.
For 12 weeks participants will complete their personalised HAPPYneuron programme of computer games in their own homes, supported by home visits and email/telephone reminders.
Once complete, tests of motor and cognitive skills will be used to determine any benefit of the cognitive training intervention.
“Being able to complete the brain training computer games at home is really important as having multiple research visits can be inconvenient and tiring for research participants,” said Dr Yhnell.
“But being able to complete the brain training at home means that only a small number of research visits are necessary.”
A pre-clinical trial was undertaken using mice with Huntington’s disease, which showed that the brain training improved their symptoms and “modified the disease’s progression”.
Dr Yhnell, who said the computer games could also help people with other brain diseases, has hopes of bringing the brain training computer games to events at Cardiff University, including the annual Brain Games, held at Cardiff Museum.
She also aims to visit Welsh schools and colleges in her role as a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) ambassador.
“Public engagement and involvement in science research is absolutely vital,” said Dr Yhnell.
“Increasing awareness and understanding of Huntington’s disease is something that I am particularly passionate about as this is a relatively rare but devastating disease.”
Dr Yhnell started her PhD in to Huntington’s disease in 2012 after initially studying biochemistry at Cardiff University.