title: Improved Executive Function and Callosal White Matter Microstructure after Rhythm Exercise in Huntington's Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosominal dominant neurodegenerative condition that leads to progressive loss of motor and cognitive functions. Early symptoms in HD include subtle executive dysfunction related to white and grey matter loss in cortico-striatal-thalamic loops. There is no cure for HD and hence a significant need for early intervention with the potential to delay the clinical onset of the disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the present pilot study was to devise a novel behavioural intervention involving drumming and rhythm exercises that targets early dysexecutive problems, such as difficulties in sequence and reversal learning, response speed, timing, and dual tasking.
  
  
  METHODS
  One preclinical person and nine people with early to advanced stages of HD were recruited of whom five completed the two months intervention. The effects of rhythm exercise on executive function, basal ganglia volume, and white matter microstructure in the anterior corpus callosum, the anterior thalamic radiation, and the cortico-spinal tract were assessed post- relative to pre-training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After two months training, improvements in executive function and changes in white matter microstructure, notably in the genu of the corpus callosum that connects prefrontal cortices of both hemispheres, were observed. No changes in basal ganglia volume were present.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study provides novel preliminary evidence that carefully targeted behavioural stimulation in HD can result in cognitive enhancement and improvements in callosal white matter microstructure.
authors.affiliation: Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Metzler-Baddeley
authors.affiliation: Music Factory, Bristol University, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cantera
authors.affiliation: Dementia and Cognitive Neurosciences, Bristol University, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coulthard
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosser
authors.affiliation: Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Derek K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Experimental Psychology, Bristol University, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Roland J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Baddeley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology*; D056344:Executive Function; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Huntington's disease; anterior thalamic radiation; brain plasticity; corpus callosum; corticospinal tract; diffusion magnetic resonance imaging; executive function; rhythm exercise; training; white matter microstructure