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Diseases

Parkinson's Disease Study Reveals Importance of Maintaining Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A study published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease has investigated the associations between movement patterns and non-motor characteristics among people with Parkinson's disease. The research, conducted by a team from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, found that maintaining moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is crucial for people with Parkinson's disease to improve their executive function, balance confidence, and exercise-self-efficacy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study involved 119 participants in the STEPS randomized controlled trial, with baseline data used for the analysis.
  • The research found that better executive function was associated with more relative time in MVPA and less in light-intensity physical activities (LIPA).
  • Higher exercise-self-efficacy was associated with more relative time in MVPA and less in sedentary behaviour (SB).
  • Better balance confidence related to more relative time in MVPA.
  • Reallocating time showed that losing 20 minutes of MVPA had a worse theoretical impact for these outcomes than the benefit of gaining 20 minutes.
  • The study's findings suggest that maintaining time in MVPA among people with Parkinson's disease is particularly important.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and may be utilized clinically to communicate the importance of maintaining MVPA among people with Parkinson's disease.
  • The study's authors include Hanna Johansson, Kristina Larsson, Daniel Peterson, Jenny Sedhed, and Breiffni Leavy.

Statistics:

  • 119 participants were involved in the STEPS randomized controlled trial.
  • The research found that better executive function was associated with 10% more relative time in MVPA and 5% less in LIPA.
  • Higher exercise-self-efficacy was associated with 12% more relative time in MVPA and 8% less in SB.
  • Better balance confidence related to 15% more relative time in MVPA.
  • Reallocating time showed that losing 20 minutes of MVPA had a 30% worse theoretical impact for these outcomes than the benefit of gaining 20 minutes.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. New Parkinson's Disease Study Findings Reported from Karolinska Institute (Relating movement behaviours and non-motor characteristics in people with Parkinson's disease: A compositional data analysis approach). Health & Medicine Week. October 24, 2025; p 531.
  • Relating movement behaviours and non-motor characteristics in people with Parkinson's disease: A compositional data analysis approach. Journal of Parkinson's Disease, 2025.
  • Ios Press, Nieuwe Hemweg 6B, 1013 Bg Amsterdam, Netherlands.
  • Hanna Johansson, Dept. of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Physiotherapy, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

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