People with Parkinson’s disease who maintain higher levels of physical activity may see a slower progression of their symptoms, according to a study published October 7, 2026, in the journal Neurology. The research indicates that staying active is linked to reduced declines in both cognitive function and movement abilities over time.
While the findings highlight a connection between an active lifestyle and better long-term outcomes, researchers stress that the study identifies an association rather than proving that exercise directly causes the disease to progress more slowly. The results suggest that physical activity could offer dual benefits for individuals managing this progressive brain disorder.
Cognitive and Movement Outcomes
The study followed 294 adults with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease. Participants were 66 years old on average and were monitored for up to seven years. To track their habits, researchers used questionnaires to estimate the number of hours each week participants spent on physical activities at work, around the home, and during recreation.
Activities were classified by intensity. Moderate efforts included brisk walking, doubles tennis, leisurely swimming, and household chores like vacuuming or mowing the lawn. Vigorous activities included running, fast cycling, team sports, singles tennis, shoveling, and carrying heavy objects.
Researchers analyzed the data in three ways: total weekly time spent on moderate or vigorous activities, overall activity volume which weighted strenuous exercise more heavily, and time spent specifically on vigorous activities. Participants were grouped into three categories based on total weekly activity time. The least active group reported up to four hours per week. The moderately active group reported four to eight hours. The most active group reported more than eight hours.
Cognitive performance was tracked using a 30-point test where lower scores indicated poorer function. The least active group saw an average annual decline of 0.478 points. The moderately active group experienced a much smaller decline of 0.090 points. The most active group had an estimated yearly decrease of only 0.007 points, meaning their cognitive scores remained nearly stable.
Movement symptoms were assessed using a scale from zero to 132, with higher numbers indicating more severe symptoms. Participants started with an average score of 23. In the least active group, symptom scores increased by 0.143 points annually. In contrast, the moderately active group saw a decrease of 0.225 points per year, and the most active group saw a decrease of 0.783 points.
Study Limitations and Future Research
These associations held true even after accounting for age, sex, and the duration of the participants’ Parkinson’s diagnosis. The link between activity and slower deterioration was consistent across all three measures of exercise used in the analysis.
Study author Dong-Woo Ryu, MD, PhD, of the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, noted that the possible benefits may depend on how long individuals stay active. He emphasized that while the differences between activity levels were small, they could become more meaningful as they accumulate over several years.
Ryu also pointed out that participants generally had good thinking and memory skills at the start of the study, which means the results should be interpreted with caution. The research also relied on self-reported activity levels, which may not be perfectly accurate compared to direct measurements.
Funding for the study came from the Gardner Family Foundation and the Precision Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases Fund. The American Academy of Neurology provided the materials for the report. Further studies are needed to determine if exercise itself can slow the progression of symptoms in Parkinson’s disease.
Source: ScienceDaily
