While there is still no cure for Parkinson’s disease, growing evidence suggests that regular exercise may be one of the most effective ways to slow its progression and improve quality of life for those living with the condition.
Researchers studying the neurological disorder say aerobic exercise appears to support brain health, reduce inflammation and stimulate the production of protective proteins that help nerve cells survive.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that typically develops between the ages of 55 and 65. Although it is best known for causing tremors and movement difficulties, the disease can also affect sleep, thinking, mood and bladder function.
Experts warn that some of the earliest signs often emerge years before the more recognisable symptoms appear. Constipation, sleep disturbances, excessive daytime fatigue and a reduced sense of smell can all be early indicators of the disease.
Scientists are increasingly focused on finding therapies that can slow or halt Parkinson’s progression rather than simply manage symptoms. According to Merrill Landers, interim dean of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Integrated Health Sciences and a physical therapist with three decades of experience, aerobic exercise has emerged as one of the most promising candidates.
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“Until a cure is found, one of the biggest goals in Parkinson’s research is finding a treatment that can actually slow or stop the disease,” Landers said. “One of the most promising candidates for slowing progression is aerobic exercise, which is the focus of my current research.”
Landers believes exercise may be doing far more than improving general fitness. Research suggests that physical activity can reduce inflammation in the brain, a process thought to contribute to the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
With support from the Cyrus Tang Foundation, Landers and colleagues in UNLV’s physical therapy department are investigating how different exercise intensities affect people living with Parkinson’s. Participants take part in structured aerobic exercise programmes while researchers collect blood samples to measure biological responses linked to brain health.
One key focus is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that helps neurons survive, grow and form new connections.
“Exercise works like fertiliser for the brain,” Landers said. “BDNF also dials down inflammation throughout the body and brain by triggering the release of anti-inflammatory signals from muscles and tissues during exercise.”
The researchers are seeking to determine the amount and intensity of exercise that produces the greatest benefit. Current evidence suggests that moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity may be particularly effective.
Landers recommends activities such as brisk walking on a treadmill, cycling, dancing or any sustained exercise that raises the heart rate. The ideal intensity, he said, is one that feels challenging but manageable — hard enough that a person can speak only in short sentences, but not so strenuous that conversation becomes impossible.
That level of exertion, roughly 60% to 75% of maximum heart rate, appears to trigger the largest increases in BDNF and may offer the strongest protective effects for the brain.
Although exercise is not a cure, researchers say it represents one of the most accessible and powerful tools currently available for people with Parkinson’s disease. As scientists continue searching for treatments that can stop the condition entirely, regular physical activity may help patients preserve mobility, independence and brain health for longer.
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