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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
A single bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improves motor learning in premanifest and early Huntington’s disease
Frontiers in Psychology, Vol.14, pp.1-9
2023
Appears in Thompson Institute Research Collection
Abstract
Introduction: Cardiorespiratory exercise has emerged as a promising candidate to modify disease progression in Huntington’s disease (HD). In animal models, exercise has been found to alter biomarkers of neuroplasticity and delay evidence of disease, and some interventions–including exercise–have shown benefits in human HD patients. In healthy human populations, increasing evidence suggests that even a single bout of exercise can improve motor learning. In this pilot study, we investigated the effect of a single bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on motor skill learning in presymptomatic and early manifest HD patients.
Methods: Participants were allocated to either an exercise (n = 10) or control (n = 10) group. They performed either 20 min of moderate intensity cycling or rest before practicing a novel motor task, the sequential visual isometric pinch force task (SVIPT). After 1 week, the retention of the SVIPT was measured in both groups.
Results: We found that the exercise group performed significantly better during initial task acquisition. There were no significant differences in offline memory consolidation between groups, but total skill gain across both acquisition and retention sessions was greater in the group who exercised. The better performance of the exercise group was driven by improvements in accuracy, rather than speed.
Discussion: We have shown that a single bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise can facilitate motor skill learning in people with HD gene-expansion. More research is needed to investigate the underlying neural mechanisms and to further explore the potential for neurocognitive and functional benefits of exercise for people with HD.
Details
- Title
- A single bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improves motor learning in premanifest and early Huntington’s disease
- Authors
- Sophie C. Andrews (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteLydia Kämpf (Author) - Monash UniversityDylan Curtin (Author) - Monash UniversityMark Hinder (Author) - University of TasmaniaNicole Wenderoth (Author) - University of ZurichJulie C. Stout (Author) - Monash UniversityJames P. Coxon (Author) - Monash University
- Publication details
- Frontiers in Psychology, Vol.14, pp.1-9
- Publisher
- Frontiers Research Foundation
- Date published
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1089333
- ISSN
- 1664-1078
- Copyright note
- © 2023 Andrews, Kämpf, Curtin, Hinder, Wenderoth, Stout and Coxon. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
- Organisation Unit
- Thompson Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99711898602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Web Of Science research areas
- Psychology, Multidisciplinary
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