Does exercise demonstrate a dose-dependent benefit with cognition in Parkinson's disease?
Joseph Seemiller1, Abhimanyu Mahajan2, Christopher B Morrow3
1Department of Neurology, Pennsylvania State University-Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
Parkinsonism & Related Disorders
|January 23, 2025
Summary
Regular physical activity, measured by the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA), is linked to better cognitive function in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Even small amounts of exercise show benefits, with higher activity levels correlating with improved performance on cognitive tests.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Exercise Science
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is known to benefit from exercise regarding motor symptoms and quality of life.
- The relationship between physical activity and cognitive performance in PD requires further investigation.
- Existing research primarily focuses on exercise's motor benefits, leaving a gap in understanding its cognitive impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between physical activity levels and cognitive performance in individuals with Parkinson's disease.
- To determine if a dose-dependent relationship exists between exercise intensity and cognitive function in PD.
- To assess cognitive performance using standardized tests in relation to self-reported physical activity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) to quantify self-reported exercise in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.
- Assessed cognitive performance through the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and Stroop tests.
- Employed linear regression analysis to examine the association between RAPA scores and cognitive test results, controlling for age and PD duration.
Main Results:
- 172 and 181 participants completed Stroop and SDMT, respectively, in both medication 'off' and 'on' states.
- Mild physical activity (RAPA score 2-3) correlated with improved SDMT and Stroop color naming performance compared to no exercise.
- High physical activity (RAPA score 6-7) showed significantly better SDMT and Stroop color naming performance than moderate activity (RAPA score 4-5).
Conclusions:
- Higher self-reported physical activity levels are dose-dependently associated with enhanced cognitive performance in Parkinson's disease patients.
- Cognitive benefits were observed in both medication 'off' and 'on' states.
- Even minimal physical activity demonstrated a notable positive impact on cognition, highlighting the importance of initiating exercise.
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