Exploring the Effects of Exercise on Memory and Cognition in Parkinson´s Disease

Summary

The study aims to assess the effects of cardiovascular (aerobic) training on memory formation and cognitive function in people with Parkinson's disease. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups either performing cardiovascular training (experimental group) or stretching (control group) for twelve weeks, three times a week. The primary aim is to examine whether moderate-intense cardiovascular training (MICT) improves procedural memory formation (primary outcome) compared to stretching. Secondary outcomes include episodic memory formation, cognitive function, cardiorespiratory fitness, sleep quality, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) blood concentration levels.

Conditions

• Parkinson Disease

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

cardiovascular training

Cardiovascular training will be performed in supervised sessions and in small groups of 2-5 persons at the study site. The training is performed on a cycle ergometer at 60% of peak power output (Wmax) for 30 min (i.e., 5 min warm-up, 20 min at 60% Wmax, 5 min cool-down) three times a week for twelve weeks. The exercise program will be increased by 5 min (max. 55 min) and 5% of intensity (in Watt) every two weeks. If participants report a too low (i.e., Borg scale ≤ 11) or too high (i.e., Borg scale ≥ 16) subjective rate of perceived exertion (RPE; Borg scale 6-20) intensity will be increased or decreased until the target levels are met (i.e., Borg scale 12-15). During training, heart rate, intensity (in Watt) and RPE will be monitored. Participants missing training sessions will be offered an additional week to perform up to three training sessions.

BEHAVIORAL

stretching

The stretching training will be performed in supervised sessions and in small groups of 2-5 persons at the study site. Stretching training consists of lying, seated, and standing flexibility exercises (according to the recommendations of the American Parkinson´s Disease Foundation and the Parkinson Society Canada) for 30 min (i.e., 5 min warm-up, 20 min main part, 5 min cool-down) three times a week for twelve weeks. The exercise program will be increased by 5 min (i.e., adding additional repetitions and exercises; max. 55 min) every two weeks. Intensity of stretching exercises will be assessed by subjective rate of perceived muscle tension on a visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 to 10 and will be moderate defined as 5 to 7 on the VAS. During training VAS, heart rate, and RPE will be monitored. Participants missing training sessions will be offered an additional week to perform up to three training sessions.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• German Foundation for Neurology

  collaborator OTHER

• University Hospital Heidelberg

  collaborator OTHER

• Universitätsmedizin Mannheim

  collaborator OTHER

• SRH Kurpfalzkrankenhaus Heidelberg

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Heidelberg University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Simon Steib, Prof. Dr. · Heidelberg University

• Philipp Wanner, Dr. · Heidelberg University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

50 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-02-27

Primary Completion

2026-12-31

Completion

2027-07-31

Countries

• Germany

Study Locations