The therapeutic effects of multimodal exercise for people with Parkinson's: A longitudinal community-based study

Introduction: Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) can develop a range of motor and non-motor symptoms due to its progressive nature and lack of effective treatments. Exercise interventions, such as multimodal (MM) programmes, may improve and sustain physical or cognitive function in PD. However, studies usually evaluate physical performance, cognition, and neuroprotective biomarkers separately and over short observation periods.

Methods: Part one evaluates the effects of a weekly community-based MM exercise class (60 min) on physical function in people with PD (PwP). Exercise participants (MM-EX; age 65 ± 9 years; Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) scale ≤ IV) completed a battery of functional assessments every 4 months for one (n = 27), two (n = 20) and three years (n = 15). In part two, cognition and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were assessed over 6-to-8 months and compared to aged-matched non-active PwP (na-PD, n = 16; age 68 ± 7 years; H&Y scale ≤ III) and healthy older adults (HOA, n = 18; age 61 ± 6 years).

Results: MM-EX significantly improved walking capacity (5% improvement after 8 months), functional mobility (11% after 4 months), lower extremity strength (15% after 4 months) and bilateral grip strength (9% after 28 months), overall, maintaining physical function across 3 years. Group comparisons showed that only MM-EX significantly improved their mobility, lower extremity strength, cognition and BDNF levels.

Conclusion: Weekly attendance to a community-based MM exercise group session can improve and maintain physical and cognitive function in PD, with the potential to promote neuroprotection.