Cardiff University has co-designed an app with people with Huntington's disease for people with Huntington's disease.
What is HD-DRUM?
A tablet-based drumming app to stimulate movement and thinking abilities in people with Huntington’s disease. With people with Huntington’s disease, researchers at Cardiff University have co-designed a rhythmic movement (drumming) app (HD-DRUM) for use in clinal trials.
In HD-DRUM, musician Jimi teaches drumming along to different rhythmic music patterns to stimulate movement and concentration abilities.
Why drumming?
Previous research suggests that music-based rhythmic stimulation may help with maintaining and improving movement and thinking abilities and with strengthening brain connections in people with movement disorders such as Huntington’s disease.
The researchers are looking for people to help them find out how easy it is for people with Huntington’s disease to use HD-DRUM for 8 weeks at home and see if they like it.
They will also explore any effects of HD-DRUM on movement and thinking abilities and the brain.
What is involved?
You would visit Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) for cognitive and motor tests and an (optional) MRI brain scan at the beginning and the end of the study.
At the end of the first visit, you will be placed in either the HD-DRUM intervention or a usual-activity control group.
In the intervention group, you will be shown how to use HD-DRUM and be given a tablet with the app to take home with you.
You will be asked to do the training at-home for ten minutes a day for eight weeks.
After the eight weeks, you will have your second visit at CUBRIC where the researchers will repeat all cognitive and motor tests and the optional MRI scan.
Travel and overnight stay expenses for people who come from further afar will be covered.
Interested?
Contact details: hd-drum@cardiff.ac.uk, Metzler-BaddeleyC@cardiff.ac.uk
Or phone CUBRIC on 029 2087 0365 and leave your contact details for
Claudia Metzler-Baddeley.