Exploring the Effects of Exercise on Memory and Cognition in Parkinson´s Disease
Trial Parameters
Brief 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.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed Parkinson's disease * Disease stage ≤3 on the Hoehn \& Yahr scale * Age ranging from 50 - 80 years * Naive to the memory tasks (primary outcomes) * Ability to stand and walk at least 10 meters independently Exclusion Criteria: * Atypical Parkinsonism * Significant level of cognitive impairment (i.e., Montreal Cognitive Assessment \<21) * Deep brain stimulation or brain pacemaker * Diagnosed psychiatric illness * Known clinically relevant neurological, internal or orthopedic conditions besides Parkinsonism that would interfere with the exercise paradigm * Exceeding the recommended level of cardiovascular exercise for older adults (i.e., cardiovascular exercise done ≥150 min per week of moderate-intensity or ≥75 min per week of vigorous-intensity)