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Background and purpose Despite advances in the understanding of Huntington's disease ( HD), treatment remains symptomatic. Multidisciplinary rehabilitation, however, appears to impact disease progression. Here we show the feasibility, safety and efficacy of a 9-month multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme in a small cohort of patients with early-to-middle-stage HD. Methods Twenty patients with HD were assigned to two groups, equally matched for cognitive and motor scores. One group received the intervention, whilst the other served as control. The Unified-Huntington's-Disease-Rating-Scale-Total-Motor-Score was the primary outcome measure. Neurocognitive/psychological tests, body composition, postural stability, strength and quality of life assessments were secondary outcome measures. Results The intervention reduced motor and postural stability deterioration, with minor improvements in depression, cognition and quality of life. Significant gains were observed for fat-free mass and strength. Conclusion This pilot study suggests that a prolonged multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme in early-to-middle-stage HD is feasible, well-tolerated and associated with therapeutic benefit. Further explorative, larger studies are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most families with companion animals regard them as family members, and affectionate relationships with pets can enhance health. Research suggests that these relationships are complicated and vary, depending on many factors, including ethnicity, but there has been little research on animal-human relationships in communities of color in the United States. This qualitative study explored beliefs about and experiences with companion animals of women of color. A central theme that emerged was the reciprocity that existed in women's relationships with their animals. A model for understanding multiple influences on women's views about animals and implications for research and practice are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]