Parkinson's disease is a severe brain disorder where the brain gradually loses the cells that produce dopamine in the brain leading to symptoms like tremors, rigidity and slowness. Despite the advances in the treatment, there still is a great need to look for new ideas to slow down the disability. One of the emerging research says that high-intensity exercise is a game-changer which helps slow down how fast the disease gets worse.
To get a deeper understanding of this, OnlyMyHealth interacted with Dr Darshan Doshi, Consultant Neurology, PD Hinduja Hospital & MRC, Mahim, Mumbai.
As per Dr Doshi, traditionally, treatment strategies for Parkinson’s have revolved around medication and therapy to alleviate symptoms and enhance patients' quality of life. “Earlier research has shown that different exercises are linked to improved symptomatology of Parkinson’s disease. Recently conducted, a small pilot study involving ten patients showed that high-intensity aerobic exercise preserved dopamine-producing neurons, neurons that are most vulnerable to destruction in patients with the disease,” he said.
Exercise And Parkinson’s Disease
Explaining more about Parkinson’s disease, Dr Doshi said, “In Parkinson’s disease, there is a build-up of faulty proteins like alpha-synuclein that harm neurons making dopamine. Studies show that exercise in Parkinson's patients helps because it boosts factors that help neurons grow and survive, and reduces inflammation. It also helps the brain reorganise and make new connections, which might make up for the lost neurons in Parkinson's.”
Furthermore, research shows that high intensity exercise not only improves movement problems in Parkinson’s Disease patients but also helps them to perform daily tasks better. Dr Doshi said, “High-intensity interval training (HIIT), which involves short bursts of intense exercise followed by rest, is especially good at improving heart health, strength, and ability to move in Parkinson's patients.”
Research Based Evidence
Citing a research published in NPJ Parkinson’s Disease journal, Dr Doshi said, “This study unveils the transformative impact of high-intensity aerobic exercise on brain health at a cellular level.” Adding further details about the study, he said, “In a six-month study involving ten early mild Parkinson’s Disease patients, advanced imaging techniques revealed that intense aerobic exercise not only preserved dopamine-producing neurons but also spurred their growth while enhancing dopamine signalling.”
Studies have also shown that high-intensity exercise helps in addressing the symptoms like depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances while bolstering cardiovascular health and reducing fall risks, thereby enhancing overall quality of life for Parkinson’s Disease patients.
Furthermore, Dr Doshi said, “While there is promise of high-intensity exercise in Parkinson’s Disease, further research in larger populations with control groups is imperative to comprehend its mechanisms fully and ascertain long-term effects. Individual variability in disease severity, exercise tolerance, and treatment response necessitates tailored exercise interventions.”
Also read: How Physiotherapy Helps Manage Parkinson's Disease, Expert Answers
Conclusion
High-intensity exercise is seen as a promising way and emerges as a hopeful treatment in the quest to combat the brain cell loss in Parkinson’s Disease. Exercise helps the brain change and grow, increases helpful brain chemicals and improves both physical movement and thinking skills in an individual. Concluding, Dr Doshi said, “Starting this type of exercise early in the disease could greatly help patients. Adding regular intense exercise to Parkinson's treatment plans can ease symptoms and make life better for those dealing with this tough condition.”