Effects of Aerobic Exercise in Parkinson's Disease
Completed · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Parkinson Disease
In brief
Motivated by reported improvements in aerobic fitness and executive functions after a 6-month aerobic walking intervention in normal sedentary elderly, we conducted a Phase I/II study to investigate effects of aerobic exercise on motor function, cognition, and quality of life in mild-moderate patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). To identify the best method to deliver fitness training, we also aimed to compare safety, tolerability, and fitness benefits between different training methods (continuous/moderate intensity vs. interval/alternating between low and vigorous intensity) and exercise settings (individual vs. group). Interval training reportedly facilitates higher fitness gains than continuous training. Group training may promote success through social interaction, whereas individual training offers greater flexibility. Details of the study can be found in the publication below: Phase I/II randomized trial of aerobic exercise in Parkinson disease in a community setting. Uc EY, Doerschug KC, Magnotta V, Dawson JD, Thomsen TR, Kline JN, Rizzo M, Newman SR, Mehta S, Grabowski TJ, Bruss J, Blanchette DR, Anderson SW, Voss MW, Kramer AF, Darling WG. Neurology. 2014 Jul 29;83(5):413-25. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000000644. Epub 2014 Jul 2. PMID: 24991037
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT00784563
- Run by
- US Department of Veterans Affairs
- People needed
- 104
- Starts
- 2009-02-01
- Expected to finish
- 2012-05-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2015-09-15
Who can join
Age: 50 and older, up to 80. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Veteran or non-veteran;
- Presence of all 3 cardinal features of Parkinson's disease (resting tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity), which have to be asymmetrical;
- Hoehn and Yahr Scale stage I-III;
- Men or women aged 50-80 capable of performing the planned exercise programs;
- Intention to remain in the local area over the study period;
- Stable dopaminergic treatment regimen for at least 4 weeks prior to baseline without any clinical need for medication adjustment at the time of screening
You may not qualify if…
- Secondary parkinsonism;
- Parkinson-plus syndromes;
- MMSE score <24;
- Participating in a aerobic exercise program;
- An unstable dosage of drugs active in the central nervous system (e.g., anxiolytics, antidepressants) during the 60 days before the baseline visit;
- Participation in drug studies or the use of investigational drugs within 30 days before screening; structural brain disease;
- Active epilepsy;
- Acute illness or active, confounding medical, neurological, or musculoskeletal conditions; alcoholism or other forms of drug addiction;
- Inability to complete the graded exercise test;
- Lack of medical clearance from our pulmonologist;
- Intention to move or take a >1 month vacation during the study period;
- Contraindications to MRI or claustrophobia requiring sedation
Where it is running
- VA Medical Center, Iowa City — Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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