A study published in Neurology links higher levels of weekly physical activity to a slower progression of motor symptoms and cognitive decline in adults with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease, showing that staying active over time may help preserve movement and memory.
Study of 294 Adults Tracks Activity Levels and Disease Progression
Researchers examined 294 adults with an average age of 66 who had mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease, following participants between January 2019 and February 2025. The research drew on data from the Cincinnati Cohort Biomarker Program (CCBP), a prospective cohort study based at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, as detailed by study author Dong-Woo Ryu. Investigators tracked changes in participants’ motor symptoms for up to seven years and evaluated their cognitive function for up to five years.
Participants reported their weekly physical activity through questionnaires that covered work, household chores, hobbies, and exercise. Researchers measured physical activity in three distinct ways: total time spent on any physical activity each week, total time spent doing vigorous exercise, and a combined total that gave heavier weight to vigorous workouts. Moderate activities included brisk walking, doubles tennis, light swimming, and household chores like vacuuming and mowing the lawn, while vigorous activities involved jogging, fast bicycling, team sports, singles tennis, shoveling, and carrying heavy loads.
How Activity Volume Correlates With Movement and Memory Scores
To analyze the findings, investigators split participants into three groups based on their total weekly physical activity: low activity at up to four hours a week, medium activity at four to eight hours a week, and high activity at more than eight hours a week. The study utilized standardized scoring systems to measure symptom changes over time, including a cognitive test scored from zero to 30, where lower scores represent worse thinking and memory, and a Parkinson’s symptom assessment scored from zero to 132, where higher scores indicate more severe movement difficulties.
Participants in the low activity group experienced an average estimated annual increase in movement symptom scores of 0.143, while the medium activity group showed a decrease of 0.225, and the high group showed a decrease of 0.783. On the cognitive scale, the low group saw an average estimated annual decrease of 0.478, compared to a decrease of 0.090 for the medium group and just 0.007 for the high group. After adjusting for age, sex, and disease duration, higher numbers across all activity measures associated with slower cognitive decline and slower worsening of movement symptoms.
Clinical Interpretation and Cautions From the Research Team
While the data show clear associations between regular movement and preserved function, study authors say the results must be interpreted carefully. Because participants generally demonstrated strong thinking and memory skills when the study began, investigators note that the findings cannot be generalized automatically to all stages of the condition.
Ryu added further context regarding the findings, noting that additional investigation remains necessary to clarify underlying mechanisms. As Ryu stated:.
Study coauthor Alberto Espay, holder of the James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Center for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Research Endowed Chair in the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, pointed out that the long-term commitment of participants made the longitudinal research possible by enabling seven-year trajectories rather than single-point snapshots.
Expert Perspectives on Managing Parkinson’s Disease Through Exercise
Independent specialists note that while the observational design establishes an association rather than direct causation, the findings reinforce existing clinical recommendations regarding movement.
At the same time, researchers acknowledge study limitations, including reliance on self-reported physical activity data, which can introduce inaccuracies if participants misjudge or misstate their exercise hours.
