Can Exercise Slow Parkinson's Disease Progression? with Daniel Corcos, PhD

Parkinson's disease is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease behind Alzheimer's disease. Nearly one million people have Parkinson's disease in the U.S., and 60,000 people are newly diagnosed each year.

The disease signs and symptoms include progressive loss of muscle control, trembling, stiffness, slowness and impaired balance. As the disease progresses, it may become difficult to walk, talk and complete simple tasks. Most people who develop Parkinson’s are 60 and older.

A phase 2 clinical trial, led by Daniel Corcos, PhD, found endurance exercise is a safe and important treatment for people with Parkinson’s disease. But is high-intensity or moderate-intensity exercise the most effective in slowing the progression of the disease?

A new phase 3, multi-site clinical research trial from Northwestern Medicine will test if high-intensity treadmill exercise is more effective in decreasing the signs of Parkinson's disease in individuals who have not initiated medication for Parkinson’s. In this study, high-intensity exercise means that the heart is beating at 80 to 85 percent of its maximum for a 30-minute period, four times a week. 

The study is going to be conducted over two years. Over the first 18 months, participants will be tightly supervised and supported by study teams. The investigators will then follow participants for six additional months to see how well they continue to exercise on their own. 

This is the first time high-intensity endurance exercise is being studied across a large number of sites in both the U.S. and Canada and in a diverse population. Find out more about the study and the study site locations.