Parkinson Disease
Conditions
Keywords
Parkinson's Disease, motor learning, neuroplasticity, aerobic exercise, cardiovascular exercise, balance, postural instability, motor memory, consolidation
Brief summary
The study is designed to assess the effects of cardiovascular (aerobic) exercise on motor skill learning in Parkinson patients. Specifically, the investigators examine whether a single bout of moderate-intense aerobic exercise, performed immediately following motor skill practice, facilitates motor memory consolidation. In this experimental trial, participants will be randomly allocated to either an intervention group (motor skill practice + aerobic exercise) or control group (motor skill practice + seated rest).
Detailed description
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by motor control impairments, such as gait disturbances and postural instability. Beneficial effects of exercise are attributed to mechanisms of neuroplasticity, and task-specific motor training (repeated practice of a skill) is consequently considered to be a motor learning process. Importantly, the formation (acquisition) and consolidation of motor memories is impaired in PD compared to healthy individuals of similar age. Thus, it is crucial to identify strategies to enhance motor learning in people with PD. Recent studies have accumulated evidence to show that acute (single bouts of) cardiovascular exercise can facilitate motor skill learning. However, this evidence is mainly derived from studying healthy individuals. In a first study including PD patients, we recently found improved motor memory consolidation, but not skill acquisition, when practice was preceded by a single bout of cardiovascular exercise. These results suggest that acute exercise may enhance motor memory formation processes, but could potentially interfere with motor skill acquisition when performed prior to practice. Consequently, the present study investigates whether performing a single bout of cardiovascular exercise immediately following skill practice will enhance motor memory consolidation without affecting skill acquisition in PD. In an experimental trial, participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups. Both groups will practice balancing on a stability platform (motor learning task). The experimental group will additionally perform a bout of aerobic exercise (cycle ergometer) immediately following motor practice, while the control group will rest. Subsequently, motor skill retention will be tested after 24 hour and seven-days.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALaerobic exercise
Single-bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer following motor skill practice
BEHAVIORALrest
Seated rest following motor skill practice
BEHAVIORALmotor learning
Motor learning task on a stability platform (Stabilometer). Participants try to keep the tiltable platform in a horizontal position.
Sponsors
German Foundation for Neurology
Department of Molecular Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University Erlangen-Nürnberg
Klinik für Neurologie, Krankenhaus Rummelsberg
University of Erlangen-Nürnberg
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Parkinson's disease stage 1-3 on Hoehn & Yahr scale * Ability to stand unaided and walk without an assistive device * Stable medication during the study period * Unfamiliar to the motor learning task
Exclusion criteria
* On-off and wearing-off phenomena * Unstable medical or psychiatric illness * Clinically relevant cardiovascular or orthopaedic disease * Severe polyneuropathy * Cognitive impairment * Smoking \> 10 cigarettes/day * Caffeine \> 6 cups of coffee/day * Alcohol \> 50 g (two glasses)/day
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Time in balance | Day 1: performance at end of skill acquisition (last practice block), Day 2: 24-hour retention performance, Day 3: seven-day retention performance | Motor memory consolidation: Change of time in balance (angular displacement ±5° from horizontal) from skill practice (last block of skill acquisition) to 24-hour and seven-day retention test. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Root mean square error (RMSE) | Day 1: performance at end of skill acquisition (last practice block), Day 2: 24-hour retention performance, Day 3: seven-day retention performance | Memory consolidation: Change of root mean square error (average angular deviation from horizontal) from skill practice (last block of skill acquisition) to one-day and seven-day retention test. |
Countries
Germany
Outcome results
None listed