Exercise Could Slow Parkinson's Progression

A new study suggests that physical activity and movement may be key to slowing the decline in physical and mental function associated with Parkinson's disease.

Citing Medicine Net, researchers reported that Parkinson's patients with higher levels of physical activity had a slower progression of motor symptoms as well as problems with thinking and memory.

The researchers' findings showed that people who did more than eight hours of physical activity per week benefited the most.

"Our study suggests that physical activity may have dual benefits and is associated with slowing the decline of motor and cognitive functions," said lead researcher Dr. Dong-Woo Ryu of the University of Cincinnati in Ohio in a news release.

Parkinson's is a degenerative disorder that affects a person's ability to move. According to the National Institutes of Health, some patients with Parkinson's eventually experience problems with thinking and memory.

In this new study, researchers followed nearly 300 people with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease for up to seven years. The average age of these people was 66 years.

Participants reported their approximate weekly physical activity hours at work, at home, or while doing hobbies and recreational activities. They also participated in annual tests to assess their Parkinson's symptoms and cognitive abilities.

The research team divided people into three groups based on the total time spent on movement and activity: the low activity group (less than 4 hours per week), the moderate activity group (4 to 8 hours per week) and the high activity group (more than 8 hours per week).

The results showed that even after taking into account other effective factors, the group that had high physical activity experienced a slower process in the aggravation of movement symptoms and the loss of thinking and memory ability.

The researchers also found that patients were better off if they spent more time doing vigorous physical exercise; Sports that can include slow jogging, fast cycling, team sports, singles tennis, shoveling dirt and carrying heavy loads.

"The potential benefits of physical activity for people with Parkinson's may depend on how long they are active and how often they exercise over time," Dr. Reeve said.

The researchers concluded that these findings indicate the possibility of an unknown relationship between how Parkinson's disease affects movement and cognitive functions.

The researchers hypothesized that exercise might reverse the damaging effects of Parkinson's by improving blood supply to the brain, reducing inflammation in nerve cells, and enhancing the brain's ability to change through growth and reorganization.

They also added that physical activity causes the release of protective biochemical substances in the brain.

The differences observed were small, but if people were followed for longer than the seven-year period of the study, the differences might become more significant, Reeve noted.

"Because the participants generally had good thinking and memory skills at the beginning of the study, our results should be interpreted with caution and further studies are warranted," Reeve said.