Recent animal studies and one clinical trial suggest that exercise may help prevent or slow neurological deterioration, perhaps by producing protective brain chemicals called neurotrophic factors. A small study at the University of Pittsburgh found that those who exercised three times a week showed an improvement in balance and the ability to perform daily tasks. Other animal studies also show that exercise helps slow the loss of dopamine producing cells and so improves motor difficulties associated with Parkinson’s 1 2 3.
Following a 2005 study at the Harvard School of Public Health which concluded that young adult men who exercised vigorously at least twice a week reduced their risk of getting Parkinson’s later by 60%, further research is now under way to confirm whether exercise early in life might help prevent neurological degeneration4 .
A small study into the benefits of the Nintendo Wii at the Medical College of Georgia, USA5
, found that
participants showed significant improvements in movement, fine motor
skills, rigidity and energy levels. Significantly, depression levels
dropped to zero in those who took part
More research is needed into the duration and intensity of exercise but many believe that a regular programme should begin as soon as possible after diagnosis in order to achieve maximum benefit.
