Utilization of Aerobic Exercise to Maintain Neurologic Health

A promising approach to combat the protein aggregation, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation occurring with PD is consistent aerobic exercise. Dr. Alberts' recently completed Phase III Randomized Clinical Trial2,3 demonstrating that a specific aerobic exercise prescription was effective at slowing the progression of motor symptoms in mild to moderate Parkinson's disease patients. This project extends our positive findings by evaluating the effectiveness of this PD-specific exercise intervention in individuals identified as high-risk of converting to PD. The underlying hypothesis is that aerobic exercise can delay or prevent motor and cognitive decline associated with PD, as aerobic exercise is known to reduce oxidative stress and neuroinflammation and enhance mitochondria function.