Intermountain Healthcare and University of Utah researchers are looking for patients between the ages of 40 and 80 who are in the very early stages of Parkinson’s disease to participate in a study.

The research team is taking part in a new international study to see if high-intensity exercise can slow the progression of the disease.

Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disease behind Alzheimer’s, according to the researchers. More than 1 million people in the U.S. have the illness and approximately 60,000 are newly diagnosed each year.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s start slowly and can include a barely noticeable tremor in one hand. Stiffness, difficulty with balance and movement, and fatigue are also symptoms. Medications can help alleviate the symptoms, but finding a way to slow the progression has been unsuccessful.

Exercise, however, has shown promise, and doctors hope the study will provide promising data.

“Endurance exercise programs are an important part of our patients’ treatment for Parkinson’s disease,” said Dr. Kathleen McKee, a neurologist and study lead at Intermountain Healthcare. “If we can prove certain forms of exercise slow down disease progression, it would be a major breakthrough in treating our patients.”

The study participants will be randomly selected to participate in moderate- to high-intensity treadmill workouts over the course of 18 months. During this time, researchers will study the impact these types of exercise have on the brain and look for reduced inflammation throughout the body, which is common in patients with Parkinson’s.

“This study is the largest study to date of a non-pharmacologic intervention in Parkinson’s disease,” said Lee Dibble, professor of physical therapy and athletic training at the U of U and overall principal investigator of the Utah-based sites. “We are excited to work to improve patients’ quality of life while investigating if aerobic exercise slows the rate of Parkinson’s disease progression, something no drug has been shown to do thus far.”

Those interested in participating in the study should call 801-587-3181 or email Erin Suttman at erin.suttman@utah.edu.

Newsletter