Intense exercise may help Parkinson’s disease. An important new study published in JAMA Neurology looked at the effect of intense exercise on the progression of Parkinson’s Disease with adults in the early stages of the disease. The researchers recruited 128 men and women who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s within the past five years. None had started taking medications for treatment, and none regularly exercised. The researchers tested their aerobic capacity, maximum heart rates, and disease severity, using a standard numerical scale. They then divided the men and women randomly into three groups, one control group who would not exercise, one who participated in moderate exercise, and one who exercised intensely. After six months of monitoring the exercise sessions, the only group that showed no decline in the progression of the disease was the group that exercised intensely. Researchers theorize that intense exercise causes improved blood flow to the brain, which may aid overall brain health and slow deterioration. The study’s results also indicate that while gentler exercise is safe for people with Parkinson’s, it does not seem to delay the advancement of the disease. 

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