Accelerometers can estimate the intensity, frequency, and duration of physical activity in healthy adults. Although thresholds to distinguish varying levels of activity intensity using the Actigraph wGT3X-B have been established for the general population, their accuracy for Huntington’s disease (HD) is unknown. We aimed to define and cross-validate accelerometer cut-points for different walking speeds in adults with mild to moderate HD. A cross-sectional, multicentre, case-control, observational study was conducted with a convenience sample of 13 symptomatic ambulatory HD participants. The accelerometer was placed around the right hip, and a heart monitor was fitted around the chest to monitor heart rate variability. Participants walked on a treadmill at three speeds with light, moderate and vigorous intensities. Correlation and receiver operation curve analyses were performed between the accelerometer magnitude vector with relative oxygen and heart rate. Optimal cut-points for walking speeds of 3.2 km/h were ≤2852; 5.2 km/h: >2852 to ≤4117, and in increments until their maximum velocity: >4117. Our results support the application of the disease-specific cut-points for quantifying physical activity in patients with mild to moderate HD and promoting healthy lifestyle interventions.

Background: In adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D), routine anthropometric assessment may not detect deterioration in muscle quality and cellular integrity. Body mass index (BMI) remains useful as a first-line screening tool but cannot distinguish lean mass, fat mass and tissue quality. This study aims to describe bioimpedance-derived cellular integrity, apply the full diagnostic algorithm of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2), compare two bioimpedance muscle-mass equations, and examine the associations of disease duration and long-term glycemic exposure with muscle-related outcomes. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 193 adults with T1D recruited by consecutive sampling at the outpatient clinics of two hospitals. Participants underwent phase-sensitive 50 kHz bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), handgrip dynamometry and chair stand testing, and historical HbA1c and continuous glucose monitoring data were retrieved. Low muscle mass was estimated using the Janssen and Sergi equations with predefined sex-specific thresholds, and the complete EWGSOP2 algorithm was applied to distinguish low muscle mass from probable, confirmed and severe sarcopenia. Multivariable ordinary least squares models were adjusted for age and sex and fitted separately to preserve the largest complete-case sample for each outcome, with Benjamini–Hochberg correction for multiple testing. Results: Estimated low muscle mass differed markedly by equation, from 28.4% (Janssen) to 8.7% (Sergi); probable sarcopenia, defined by low handgrip strength, was present in 8.5%, whereas confirmed sarcopenia occurred in 2 of 167 participants (1.2%) and severe sarcopenia in none. The 16 participants identified by the Sergi equation were a strict subset of the 52 identified by the Janssen equation. Longer T1D duration was associated with a lower phase angle (β = −0.018 per year; 95% CI −0.028 to −0.009; and p < 0.001), independently of chronological age. Historical HbA1c was not associated with the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (β = +0.092; p = 0.190) but was associated with lower handgrip strength (β = −1.67 kg per 1%; p = 0.013), a longer five-repetition chair stand time (β = +0.71 s per 1%; p = 0.004) and a lower muscle quality index (β = −0.064 per 1%; p = 0.025). Conclusions: In long-standing T1D, disease duration was associated with impaired cellular integrity and cumulative glycemic exposure with reduced muscle function and quality rather than with reduced muscle quantity. Estimated prevalence of low muscle mass varied more than threefold with the equation applied, while confirmed sarcopenia was rare. These cross-sectional findings suggest that BIA-derived muscle-mass equations should not be used in isolation and support anchoring morphofunctional assessment in measured muscle strength, complemented by phase angle.

Background/Objective: Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and psychiatric symptoms. As the disease progresses, weight loss, cachexia, and musculoskeletal atrophy are common, reducing quality of life, decreasing their autonomy in their activities of daily living (ADLs), and increasing morbidity and mortality risk. To describe and compare energy expenditure (EE) during ADLs and resting conditions in individuals with HD and healthy controls, and to examine its associations with quality of life, cognitive status, motor function, and functional capacity. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 16 people with manifest HD and 10 healthy controls. Participants completed five ADLs: resting, dressing, combing hair, feeding, and walking under laboratory conditions. EE during ADLs was measured using a portable indirect calorimetry system. Results: Statistically significant between-group differences in EE were found only during feeding, with individuals with HD showing higher EE than controls (p = 0.021). In the exploratory correlation analysis, cognitive status was significantly associated with EE during dressing (p = 0.033). Conclusions: This exploratory study contributes to the limited evidence on EE during ADLs in adults with HD. The findings suggest that individuals with HD may expend more energy than healthy controls during specific daily activities, particularly feeding. However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size and preliminary nature of the study. Larger, multicenter, and longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings and determine their clinical relevance.