Long-term Effect of Physical Activity on Parkinson's Disease Progression

According to a recent study, maintaining regular exercise after the onset of the disease may be even more determining for a better progression than activity levels prior to diagnosis.

As little as 4 hours of weekly exercise can delay disease progression

Physical activity over a person's lifetime is known to help protect against a variety of chronic diseases and also reduces the risk of Parkinson's disease. Yet, once someone develops Parkinson's, it is not too late to start - in fact, quite the opposite! This is the conclusion reached by researchers at Kyoto University using data from the international Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative study, which looked at numerous clinical parameters comprehensively and longitudinally.1,2

"We believe our finding holds the potential to change physicians' attitudes towards recommending exercise in patients with Parkinson's."

The researchers studied 237 early-stage PD patients aged 56-70 years (69% were men) and found that better general physical activity levels were clearly associated with a slower decline in motor ability and cognitive performance, as well as in activities of daily living (ADLs). Moderate to vigorous physical exercise was notably linked to a slower deterioration of postural and gait stability, and work-related activities were primarily associated with a slower decline in processing speed.

In contrast, regular physical activity and moderate to intensive training at baseline had no clearly measurable effect on the subsequent clinical course, but the follow-up period for this was only 5 years. 

It has been known for some time from previous research that sports improve motor function and that certain types of exercise, such as dancing, are particularly beneficial for maintaining balance and the ability to walk in people with Parkinson's disease. However, according to the authors, there was previously no data on the long-term effect of continuing physical activity on the course of the disease in people already suffering from Parkinson's. They conclude: "[...] The current study could serve as a guide for future randomised controlled trials that place a greater emphasis on maintaining exercise in patients with PD."1,2

References:
1. Tsukita, K., Sakamaki-Tsukita, H. & Takahashi, R. Long-term Effect of Regular Physical Activity and Exercise Habits in Patients With Early Parkinson Disease. Neurology (2021) doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000013218.
2. Parkinson Disease Outcomes Improve With Regular Physical Activity and Exercise. Neurology Advisor (2022).