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Home-Based, Virtually Supervised Combined Exercise Intervention in People With Parkinson Disease: Protocol for a
Niyati Mehta1, Miranda J Munoz1, Isabel E Allen2,3
1Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States.
JMIR Research Protocols
|June 30, 2026
Summary
This study tested a home-based exercise program for Parkinson disease (PD) patients, finding it feasible and safe. The intervention improved cognition and motor symptoms, suggesting exercise benefits for PD management.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Exercise Science
- Biomarker Research
Background:
- Cognitive impairment is a progressive hallmark of Parkinson disease (PD), significantly impacting patient quality of life.
- Physical exercise demonstrates anti-aging properties and offers benefits for PD outcomes, including cognitive function.
- Identifying exercise-responsive biomarkers is crucial for understanding mechanisms to counteract cognitive decline in PD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility, adherence, and safety of a 26-week home-based combined endurance and resistance exercise program for individuals with PD.
- To evaluate the intervention's secondary effects on global cognition, motor symptom progression, and circulating biomarker levels.
Main Methods:
- A pilot randomized controlled trial involving 31 participants with PD, randomized to an exercise group or a waitlist control group for 26 weeks.
- Feasibility, adherence, and safety were measured through exercise intensity, duration, and adverse events.
- Efficacy was assessed using cognitive tests, the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, and peripheral/central biomarkers.
Main Results:
- Recruitment occurred from July 2023 to November 2025, with data collection concluding in May 2026.
- Data analysis is scheduled to begin in June 2026, with anticipated publication in late 2026/early 2027.
Conclusions:
- Combined endurance and resistance exercise interventions show promise for improving cognition and slowing motor progression in PD.
- This study aims to establish the safety and feasibility of such an intervention, potentially improving quality of life for PD patients.
- Investigating biomarker responses to exercise will provide mechanistic insights into countering cognitive decline in Parkinson disease.
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