An intellectually active lifestyle protects patients with Huntington’s disease from neurodegeneration

An intellectually active lifestyle is beneficial regarding the process of neurodegeneration which affects patients with Huntington’s disease, according to a study led by researchers Estela Cámara and Clara García-Gorro, from the Cognition and Brain Plasticity research group of the University of Barcelona and the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL).

This new study, published in the journal Neuropsychologia, states that patients with Huntington’s disease with a higher cognitive activity over life get better scores in neuropsychological tests. According to researcher Clara García-Gorro, “these patients presented a delay in the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease and a lower level of atrophy in a brain area specially affected in this disease, the caudate nucleus”.

The researcher Estela Cámara, notes that “this discovery highlights the importance of cognitive interventions in neurodegenerative diseases and the need to live a cognitive stimulating life to keep the brain healthy”.

The new study, carried out in collaboration with several hospitals, will help to better understand the factors related to the different symptomatology among the affected patients with this disease and to unveil the brain mechanisms that are responsible for the mentioned differences.

Further information in this link.