Society 5 min read By Alice Ashford
Weekly Exercise Linked to Slower Memory and Movement Decline in Parkinson's Patients
A University of Cincinnati study of 294 patients found that four to eight hours of physical activity per week was associated with slower cognitive and motor decline, though researchers caution the observational findings need confirmation.
Parkinson's disease patients who engage in regular weekly physical activity may experience slower declines in both memory and movement, according to a new study led by the University of Cincinnati. The research, published in Neurology, the official medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, tracked 294 patients with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease over several years.
Participants had an average age of 66 and reported their weekly physical activity through structured interviews covering moderate and vigorous activities at work, at home and during recreation. Moderate activities included brisk walking, light swimming, doubles tennis and household tasks such as vacuuming or mowing the lawn. Vigorous pursuits included jogging, fast cycling, team sports and singles tennis.
Researchers divided participants into three groups based on their weekly activity levels: up to four hours, four to eight hours, and more than eight hours. They then monitored cognitive health for up to five years and motor function for up to seven years. Each additional hour of physical activity per week was linked to slightly slower declines in memory, thinking and movement abilities, even after accounting for age, sex, education, weight and disease severity.
The most notable benefits appeared in the four-to-eight-hour group, which showed slower declines in memory and thinking than those who exercised less than four hours weekly. However, exercising more than eight hours per week did not appear to provide additional cognitive advantages, suggesting a possible ceiling effect for the brain benefits of physical activity.
«Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that causes movement and cognitive problems that gradually worsen, leading to disability and a loss of independence,» said study author Dong-Woo Ryu, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Cincinnati and The Catholic University of Korea. «Previous research has shown associations between physical activity and movement symptoms. Our study found physical activity may have dual benefits, with associations with slower declines in movement and cognition.»
Ryu noted that the potential benefits may depend on how long patients stay active and whether they continue exercising over time. «While our study found small differences between activity levels, these differences may become more meaningful over time,» he said.
The researchers acknowledged several limitations. Because the study was observational, it could not establish whether exercise directly slows Parkinson's progression. Participants self-reported their activity levels, which may introduce recall bias. Additionally, all participants were recruited from a single location and were primarily White, potentially limiting how widely the results can be generalised.
Dr Vibhash Sharma, a neurologist at UT Southwestern in Dallas who specialises in Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders, told Fox News Digital that the findings reinforce existing advice. «Exercise has well-established benefits for physical fitness and mobility, along with potential benefits for brain health through mechanisms that are not yet fully understood,» said Sharma, who was not involved in the research. «These findings further emphasize the importance of regular physical activity in managing Parkinson's disease.»
Sharma also highlighted a strength of the study: patients were followed over several years with assessments of both motor and cognitive function. He added a caveat, however, noting that «it is also possible that patients with inherently slower-progressing disease are more likely to remain physically active.»
The researchers called for randomised controlled trials to confirm whether exercise directly slows cognitive or motor decline. The study was supported by a grant from the Gardner Family Foundation and the Precision Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases Fund.
For the approximately 145,000 people living with Parkinson's in the UK, the findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that regular movement — even moderate household activity — may play a meaningful role in managing the condition. The study's authors emphasise that patients should consult their healthcare providers before significantly altering their exercise routines.
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