DOMINO-HD

The DOMINO-HD study (Multi-Domain Lifestyle Targets for Improving ProgNOsis) is exploring how digital technologies, such as wearable fitness trackers, can be used to support people with Huntington’s disease (HD).

Background

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited neurological condition that causes difficulties with movement and coordination. It also causes cognitive impairment that gets worse over time. Symptoms usually develop when people are between 30 and 50 years old and dementia can occur at any stage of the condition. There are currently no treatments for the condition.

Current research suggests strong potential for improving quality of life for those living with neurodegenerative diseases, such as HD, with novel health and social care concepts, and innovations focusing on the preservation of dignity, independence and social inclusion. However, the availability and quality of such services vary considerably across Europe and beyond.

The programme seeking to improve quality of life for people with Huntington’s disease. Huntington’s is a genetic disease for which there are currently no treatments. DOMINO-HD will focus on aspects of life for people with Huntington’s that haven’t been studied in depth up until now. The researchers will look at how sleep, nutrition and physical activity impact the disease so as to develop new ways to support them to manage these fundamental aspects of their lives.

The team in Cardiff, United Kingdom will lead a consortium across Europe which includes Ireland, Spain, Poland, Germany and Switzerland.

Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease (JPND)

DOMINO-HD is part of The Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease (JPND) research awards. UK Funders, including Alzheimer’s Society, united with 15 countries across Europe, Australia and Canada to support international research collaborations into diseases of the brain, including those that cause dementia.

The JPND programme harnesses the collective expertise of researchers around the world to speed up progress towards new treatments and address shared challenges in health and social care. Alzheimer’s Society, along with Department of Health and Social Care England, Health and Care Research Wales and Health and Social Care Northern Ireland, has committed £2.15 million to the programme from the UK.

European consortium

The team in Wales will lead a consortium across Europe which includes Ireland, Spain, Poland, Germany and Switzerland.

Project partners

• Prof Bernhard Landwehrmeyer, University of Ulm, Germany
• Prof Hans Jung, University of Zurich, Switzerland
• Prof Ester Cubo, Hospital Universitario of Burgos, Spain
• Prof Madeleine Lowery, Insight Centre for Data Analytics, University College Dublin, Ireland
• Dr Grzegorz Witowski, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
• RAND Health

External collaborators

• European Huntington Association (Patient’s Association)
• European Huntington’s Disease Network