EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 PM ET, August 06, 2025
Staying Active May Slow Brain Changes in Early Parkinson’s Disease
Highlights: • The study followed 120 people with early Parkinson’s disease for up to four years. • People who stayed more physically active had slower brain changes in areas tied to memory, attention and mood. • These brain differences were seen in the temporal and parietal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. • More active participants also performed better on memory and thinking tests, especially for verbal memory and attention. • Brain changes explained up to 37% of the benefit in memory and 20% of the benefit in attention linked to physical activity. MINNEAPOLIS — People with early Parkinson’s disease who stay physically active by walking, doing household chores and participating in recreational activities may experience slower brain changes and maintain better memory and attention over time, according to a study published on August 6, 2025, in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study does not prove that exercise prevents cognitive decline in Parkinson’s disease. It only shows an association. “Our study shows that people with early Parkinson’s who stay active may have slower changes in brain areas that help with memory, attention and emotional control,” said author Pablo Mir, MD, of the University of Seville in Spain and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “Staying physically active could help protect thinking skills in people with Parkinson’s.” The study included 120 people with early Parkinson’s disease who had an average age of 61. Participants were followed for up to four years. Each year, participants completed questionnaires about their physical activity that asked about intensity, duration and frequency of exercise, including leisure activities, workouts and housework. Researchers divided participants into two groups, those with low activity levels and those with higher activity levels. In a scale ranging from zero to 793, those with low activity levels had an average score of 126 compared to 229 for those with high activity levels. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to track changes in brain structure focusing on areas related to memory, attention and mood—such as the temporal and parietal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. Every participant had at least two MRIs. Researchers examined how physical activity related to changes in brain structure and thinking skills over time. At the start of the study, average cortical thickness for those with high activity levels was 4.8 millimeters (mm) and 4.7 mm for those with low activity levels. At the end of the study, cortical thickness was 4.9 mm in the high group and 4.63 mm in the low group. Average volume of the hippocampus at the start of the study for those with high activity levels was 2,223 millimeters cubed (mm3) and 2,185 mm3 for those with low activity levels. At the end of the study, the average volume was 2,234 mm3 for those with high activity levels and 2,112 mm3 for those with low activity levels. Researchers adjusted for factors that could influence the results, including age, sex, education, depression symptoms and how long a person had Parkinson’s. They found people who were more physically active had slower shrinkage in areas of the brain involved in memory, thinking and mood—including the temporal and parietal lobes, hippocampus and amygdala. These brain changes helped explain much of the benefit seen in thinking and memory. Specifically, they accounted for up to 37% of the memory benefit and 20% of the attention benefit linked to physical activity. “Exercise may not just help with day-to-day symptoms—it could also affect how Parkinson’s disease progresses, especially in parts of the brain that support key cognitive functions in Parkinson’s disease,” Mir said. “While more studies are needed, these results suggest that regular physical activity could be an easy, low-cost way to support brain health in Parkinson’s disease.” A limitation of the study is that physical activity was self-reported, which may be less reliable than using wearable devices. In addition, participants were in early stages of Parkinson’s, so the results may not apply to people with more advanced disease. The study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovations, the National Institute of Health Carlos III in Spain, the European Union and other funders. Discover more about Parkinson’s disease at BrainandLife.org, from the American Academy of Neurology. This resource also offers a magazine, podcast, and books that connect patients, caregivers and anyone interested in brain health with the most trusted information, straight from the world’s leading experts in brain health. Follow Brain & Life® on Facebook, X and Instagram.