Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 1 hr ago
Regular exercise linked to slower decline in people with Parkinson’s
A study found that more physical activity was linked to slower declines in movement and thinking skills among people with Parkinson’s.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati followed 294 patients for up to seven years.
Parkinson’s is a brain disease that affects movement and can also affect thinking.
People who were active for more than eight hours a week had almost no decline in test scores of thinking skills, while those active for up to four hours a week had a larger decline.
Activities included jogging and tennis as well as gardening and household chores, and the total time spent active mattered more than intensity.
The researchers said slower decline could help patients stay independent for longer, but the study cannot prove that exercise caused the difference.
They plan further studies to find out whether exercise can genuinely slow the disease’s progression.
A study of 294 people with Parkinson’s found that those who were more physically active experienced slower declines in movement and cognitive function.
The participants who were active for more than eight hours a week showed the slowest decline.
Activities ranged from jogging and tennis to household chores such as vacuuming and gardening.
Researchers said the observational study cannot prove that exercise caused the slower decline.
The study was published in the journal Neurology.
- Who
- Researchers from the University of Cincinnati studied 294 people with Parkinson’s.
- What
- The study found that greater physical activity was associated with slower declines in movement and cognitive function.
- When
- The study followed participants for up to seven years; it was published on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- Researchers said exercise may help preserve physical and mental function, but the study cannot establish cause and effect.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers followed 294 people with Parkinson’s and tracked changes in movement and cognitive function.
The study was published in the journal Neurology.
- Participants
- 294 people with Parkinson’s
- Follow-up
- Up to seven years
- Most active group
- More than eight hours of physical activity a week
- Study journal
- Neurology
- Study lead author
- Dr Dong-Woo Ryu
What people are saying
Our study found physical may have dual benefits, with associations with slower declines in movement and cognition.
It has both symptom-relieving and potential disease-modifying effects, especially when started early and performed consistently.
Sources
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