The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University

Published purpose

Normal aging and chronic disease can reduce our fine motor skills. However, sensitive outcome measures for assessing hand function and fine motor skills required for activities of daily living are lacking. This is impacting treatment development for late onset neuromuscular conditions affecting hand function in the elderly, such as Myotonic Dystrophy type-1 (DM1), because the lack of PAGE 4 sensitive outcome measures to monitor treatment efficacy is preventing industry investment in clinical trials for these conditions. This project will develop and test novel, sensitive, outcome measures to assess hand function in patients with neuromuscular conditions using the NRC’s bTrained software platform combined with wearable hardware. At the end of the project, a novel outcome measure (consisting of a suite of sensitive hand function assessment exercises on the bTrained platform) will be delivered and be ready for testing in the context of clinical trials. This study directly falls under the objectives of the AiP program by developing tools to facilitate drug discovery for neuromuscular diseases affecting the elderly, and thereby help elderly individuals to remain well and living independently in their homes.