Aerobic Exercise Improves Mood, Cognition, and Language Function in Parkinson’s Disease: Results of a Controlled Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 878-889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori J.P. Altmann ◽  
Elizabeth Stegemöller ◽  
Audrey A. Hazamy ◽  
Jonathan P. Wilson ◽  
Dawn Bowers ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectives: Parkinson’s disease (PD) results in a range of non-motor deficits that can affect mood, cognition, and language, and many of these issues are unresponsive to pharmacological intervention. Aerobic exercise can improve mood and cognition in healthy older adults, although only a few studies have examined exercise effects on these domains in PD. The current study assesses the effects of aerobic exercise on aspects of cognition, mood, and language production in people with PD. Methods: This study compares the effects of aerobic exercise to stretch-balance training and a no-contact control group in participants with idiopathic PD. The aerobic and stretch-balance groups trained three times a week for 16 weeks, while controls continued normal activities. Outcome measures included disease severity, mood, cognition (speed of processing, memory, and executive function), and language production (picture descriptions). Cognition and language were assessed in single and dual task conditions. Results: Depressive symptoms increased only in the control group (p<.02). Executive function improved in the aerobic exercise group only in the single task (p=.007) and declined in controls in the dual task. Completeness of picture descriptions improved significantly more in the aerobic group than in the stretch-balance group (p<.02). Conclusions: Aerobic exercise is a viable intervention for PD that can be protective against increased depressive symptoms, and can improve several non-motor domains, including executive dysfunction and related aspects of language production. (JINS, 2016, 22, 878–889)

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Johansson ◽  
Malin Freidle ◽  
Urban Ekman ◽  
Ellika Schalling ◽  
Breiffni Leavy ◽  
...  

Background. Recent studies indicate that exercise can induce neuroplastic changes in people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD). Reports of feasibility outcomes from existing pilot trials however are, of date, insufficient to enable replication by others in larger definitive trials. Objective. To evaluate trial design for a definitive trial by exploring process and scientific feasibility. Methods. The trial design was a parallel-group RCT pilot with a 1 : 1 allocation ratio to either HiBalance or an active control group (HiCommunication). Both groups received one-hour sessions twice weekly, plus home exercises weekly, for 10 weeks. Participants with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease (PD) were recruited via advertisement. Assessment included physical performance, structural and functional MRI, blood sampling, neuropsychological assessment, and speech/voice assessment. Process and scientific feasibility were monitored throughout the study. Process feasibility involved recruitment, participant acceptability of assessments and interventions, assessment procedures (focus on imaging, blood sampling, and dual-task gait analysis), and blinding procedures. Scientific feasibility involved trends in outcome response and safety during group training and home exercises. Data are presented in median, minimum, and maximum values. Changes from pre- to postintervention are reported descriptively. Results. Thirteen participants were included (4 women, mean age 69.7 years), with a recruitment rate of 31%. Attendance rates and follow-up questionnaires indicated that both groups were acceptable to participate. Image quality was acceptable; however, diplopia and/or sleepiness were observed in several participants during MRI. With regard to dual-task gait performance, there appeared to be a ceiling effect of the cognitive tasks with seven participants scoring all correct answers at pretest. Blinding of group allocation was successful for one assessor but was broken for half of participants for the other. Conclusions. The overall trial design proved feasible to perform, but further strengthening ahead of the definitive RCT is recommended, specifically with respect to MRI setup, cognitive dual-tasks during gait, and blinding procedures. This trial is registered with NCT03213873.


2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alisson Menezes Araújo Lima ◽  
Fabiana de Campos Cordeiro Hirata ◽  
Gabriela Sales de Bruin ◽  
Rosa Maria Salani Mota ◽  
Veralice Meireles Sales de Bruin

The aim of this study is to evaluate the acute effect of playing games on executive function and motor ability in Parkinson's disease (PD). Consecutive cases with PD were studied with the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Mini-Mental State examination (MMSE), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Stroop test, finger tapping and 14-meter walk test. After randomization, patients performed a game of dominoes and were tested before and after experiment being further categorized as control, winners or non-winners. Forty patients, 27 male (67.5%), aged 48 to 84 years (63.2 ± 8.5), Hoehn & Yahr I to III were included. Twenty-eight (70%) presented depressive symptoms (BDI > 10). Groups (Control N = 13; Winners = 14 and Non-winners = 13) were not different regarding age, disease duration, age at onset, BMI, MMSE scores, depressive symptoms, levodopa dose, and previous practice of games. Winners presented significantly better results on executive function (Stroop test,p= 0.002) and on motor activity (Finger tapping,p= 0.01). Non-winners showed a trend of better performance in the 14-meter-walk test. This study shows that the practice of a non-reward game acutely improved memory and motor skills in PD. Our results suggest a role for the reward system in the modulation of the dopaminergic function of the basal ganglia in these patients.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 2151-2157 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Zirek ◽  
Burcu Ersoz Huseyinsinoglu ◽  
Z. Tufekcioglu ◽  
B. Bilgic ◽  
H. Hanagasi

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadeesha Kalyani Hewa Haputhanthirige ◽  
Karen Sullivan ◽  
Gene Moyle ◽  
Sandy Brauer ◽  
Erica Rose Jeffrey ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Gait impairments in Parkinson’s disease (PD) limit independence and quality of life. While dance based interventions could improve gait, further studies are needed to determine if the benefits generalise to different terrains and when dual-tasking. The aim was to perform a feasibility study of the effects of a dance intervention, based on the Dance for PD®(DfPD®) program, on gait under different dual-tasks (verbal fluency, serial subtraction) and surfaces (even, uneven), and to determine if a larger scale follow-up RCT is warranted.Methods A dance group (DG; n = 17; age = 65.8 ± 11.7 years) and a control group (CG: n = 16; age = 67.0 ± 7.7 years) comprised of non-cognitively impaired (Addenbrooke’s score: DG = 93.2 ± 3.6, CG = 92.6 ± 4.3) independently locomoting people with PD (Hoehn & Yahr I-III) participated in the study. The DG undertook a one-hour DfPD®based class, twice weekly for 12 weeks. The CG had treatment as usual. Gait analysis was performed at baseline and post-intervention while walking on two surfaces (even, uneven) under three conditions (regular walking; dual-task: verbal-fluency, serial-subtraction). The data was analysed by means of a linear mixed model. ResultsThe DG improved significantly compared to the CG in gait velocity, cadence, step-length, and stride-length when even surface walking, with and without a dual-task. On the uneven surface the DG walked more cautiously during regular walking but had improved gait velocity, cadence and step-length when performing serial-subtractions. Conclusions DfPD®-based classes produced clinically significant improvement on spatiotemporal gait parameters under dual-task conditions and on uneven surfaces. This could arise from improved movement confidence and coordination; emotional expression; cognitive skills (planning, multitasking), and; utilisation of external movement cues. A large-scale RCT of this program is warranted.Trial registration A protocol for this study has been registered retrospectively at Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry on 12.11.2018. Identifier: ACTRN12618001834246.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-59
Author(s):  
Nariana Mattos Figueiredo Sousa ◽  
Ana Cristina da Mata Neri ◽  
Ivar Viana Brandi ◽  
Sonia Maria Dozzi Brucki

ABSTRACT. Pharmacological treatments for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), are lacking, and alternative approaches have been implemented, including cognitive training (CT). Objective: To determine the impact of CT on cognitive and quality of life measures in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who were seen a hospital neurorehabilitation program. Methods: Thirty-nine individuals with MCI-PD, according to the Movement Disorder Society, were randomly distributed into two groups: experimental and control group, matched for demographic and clinical characteristics. Both groups were assessed for cognition and quality of life at the beginning of the study and at the end of the intervention protocol. The following instruments were used to assess cognition and quality of life: Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III, Digit Span, Trail Making Test (TMT, A and B) and Parkinson disease quality of life questionnaire. The experimental group (EG) engaged in CT, whereas the control group (CG) underwent activities of the general rehabilitation program. Results: No baseline evaluation differences were found. Intergroup analysis showed differences in measures, such as total score (1.977, p=0.0480) and visuospatial domain (-2.636, p=0.0084) of the ACE-III, with the EG performing better, in addition to better performance in TMT-B mistakes (-1.928, p=0.0439). Intragroup analysis revealed that the EG showed significant improvement in almost all the cognitive variables, well as in self-reported quality of life (total score and mobility, activities of daily living, body discomfort dimensions). Conclusions: Engagement in cognitive activities was associated with better cognitive abilities in PD-MCI. Future studies should consider the long-term effect of this type of intervention and impact on functional activities.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayoko Miura ◽  
Mie Matsui ◽  
Shutaro Takashima ◽  
Kortaro Tanaka

Background/Aims: Little is known about the relationship between cognitive functions and higher-level functional capacity (e.g. intellectual activity, social role, and social participation) in Parkinson's disease (PD). The purpose of this study was to clarify neuropsychological characteristics and their association with higher-level functional capacity in PD patients. Methods: Participants were 31 PD patients and 23 demographically matched healthy controls. Neuropsychological tests were conducted. One year later, a questionnaire survey evaluated higher-level functional capacity in daily living. Results: The PD group scored significantly lower than the control group in all cognitive domains, particularly executive function and processing. Executive function, processing speed, language, and memory were significantly correlated with higher-level functional capacity in PD patients. Stepwise regression showed that only executive function (Trail Making Test-B), together with disease severity (HY stage), predicted the higher-level functional capacity. Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence of a relationship between executive function and higher-level functional capacity in patients with PD.


2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 524-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad Swank ◽  
Ann Medley ◽  
Mary Thompson ◽  
Elaine Trudelle-Jackson ◽  
Mark Barisa

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael H Thaut ◽  
Ruth R Rice ◽  
Thenille Braun Janzen ◽  
Corene P Hurt-Thaut ◽  
Gerald C McIntosh

Objective: To test whether rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) training reduces the number of falls in Parkinson’s disease patients with a history of frequent falls. Design: Randomized withdrawal study design. Subjects: A total of 60 participants (aged 62–82 years) diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (Hoehn and Yahr stages III or IV) with at least two falls in the past 12 months. Intervention: Participants were randomly allocated to two groups and completed 30 minutes of daily home-based gait training with metronome click–embedded music. The experimental group completed 24 weeks of RAS training, whereas the control group discontinued RAS training between weeks 8 and 16. Main measures: Changes in clinical and kinematic parameters were assessed at baseline, weeks 8, 16, and 24. Results: Both groups improved significantly at week 8. At week 16—after the control group had discontinued training—significant differences between groups emerged including a rise in the fall index for the control group ( M = 10, SD = 6). Resumption of training reduced the number of falls so that group differences were no longer significant at week 24 ( Mexperimental = 3, SD = 2.6; Mcontrol = 5, SD = 4.4; P > 0.05). Bilateral ankle dorsiflexion was significantly correlated with changes in gait, fear of falling, and the fall index, indicating ankle flexion as a potential kinematic mechanism RAS addresses to reduce falls. Conclusion: RAS training significantly reduced the number of falls in Parkinson’s disease and modified key gait parameters, such as velocity and stride length.


Author(s):  
Jin-Kyoung Park ◽  
Soo Ji Kim

Although there have been increasing reports regarding the effectiveness of dual-task interventions in rehabilitation, the scope of this research is limited to gross motor movement, such as gait among patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). To expand the dual-task paradigm to upper extremity motor and attention control in PD, drum playing with modulation of musical elements was attempted. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a drum playing intervention with rhythmic cueing on upper extremity motor control and attention control in patients with PD. Twelve participants were randomly assigned to the drum playing intervention with rhythmic cueing group or the control group. The results showed that the drum playing with rhythmic cueing (DPRC) group significantly increased their sustained time of entrainment (45 BPM) and their latency time until entrainment from pretest to posttest. For the DPRC group, the latency time until entrainment was significantly improved, and improvements in cognitive measures were also found. This study shows that DPRC has great potential to improve upper extremity motor control and attention control and supports the development of new interventions that include this technique for rehabilitation in patients with PD.


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