A study published recently in an international journal found that steady aerobic exercise may slow the rate at which dopamine-producing nerve cells are damaged. The research, carried out in people with early Parkinson’s, suggests exercise can play a role alongside medication rather than in place of it.
🔍 What the study found
The research team split just over 200 people with early Parkinson’s into two groups. One group did regular aerobic exercise at least three times a week; the other carried on with life as usual. Both were followed for two years. On brain imaging, damage to dopamine-producing nerve cells progressed comparatively more slowly in the group that exercised regularly.
✅ If you have Parkinson’s
Exercise cannot take the place of your medication. What this means is that alongside the treatment you are already on, it may help slow how quickly things progress. It doesn’t have to be strenuous. The key is steady aerobic exercise — brisk walking, cycling, anything that leaves you slightly out of breath — three times a week, 30 minutes at a time.
🙋 If you’re a care partner
When the person you care for is finding it hard to get started, or hard to keep going, simply walking alongside them or helping with stretches makes a real difference. Rather than setting an ambitious target, try suggesting it in small pieces: “let’s just walk for 10 minutes today.”
ParkinON has rewritten recently published research and news coverage in plain language for this article. It is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. Please talk with your care team before starting a new exercise routine.