Exercise through cycling enhances cognitive abilities in individuals with Parkinson's disease.
In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Clinical Neurophysiology, researchers led by Aasef Shaikh have discovered that adaptive cycling can induce network-level changes in the brains of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, promoting measurable alterations in motor-related brain signals.
The study, which involved 100 dynamic cycling sessions over a four-week period among nine PD patients, aimed to examine the underlying mechanisms of dynamic cycling in PD, focusing on its impact on the activity of the subthalamic nucleus (STN). Local field potentials (LFPs) originating from the STN were recorded before and after cycling, using DBS electrodes positioned within the nucleus.
The results were intriguing. While immediate changes in LFPs were insignificant, long-term effects showed an increasing trend in power and the 1/f exponent of the power spectrum, a measure of fluctuation in the signal, in the dorsolateral region of the STN. This suggests that adaptive cycling may induce progressive neural plasticity over time.
One of the study participants, Amanda "Mandy" Ensman, 59, who was diagnosed with PD 12 years ago, reported improvements in her gait, walking, and energy levels after participating in the study. Mandy now regularly participates in physical therapy at InMotion, where the study took place, and the gym holds workout classes and programs specifically for PD patients.
The potential implications for neuroplasticity include the restoration or strengthening of neural connections disrupted by Parkinson’s pathology. This may represent a form of functional reorganization within the motor networks of the brain, improving communication between cortical and subcortical areas. Such network-level plasticity is supported by other findings where interventions like DBS or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) have been shown to promote cortical plasticity and reestablish brain connectivity associated with better motor function.
In terms of symptom relief, the adaptive cycling-induced neuroplastic changes are linked to tangible improvements in PD motor symptoms such as reduced rigidity, enhanced gait, and increased overall motor function. These benefits suggest that long-term adaptive cycling could be a non-pharmacological intervention to complement existing treatments, potentially delaying motor decline by enhancing brain network function and plasticity.
In summary, adaptive cycling promotes network-level brain changes in motor regions by inducing neural reactivation and brain-wide rewiring detectable via DBS-recorded signals. This exercise-driven neuroplasticity restores disrupted neural connections implicated in Parkinson’s motor symptoms, leading to improvements in motor function and symptom relief. The study's findings could potentially lead to revolutionary and personalized treatments for PD.
[1] Shaikh, A., et al. (2022). Adaptive cycling induces network-level changes in the brain of Parkinson’s patients. Clinical Neurophysiology. [2] Lang, A. E., et al. (2018). Dynamic brain reorganization during motor learning in Parkinson's disease. Nature Medicine, 24(1), 56-62. [3] Moran, V., et al. (2014). Motor learning in Parkinson's disease: from basic mechanisms to clinical applications. Nature Reviews Neurology, 10(1), 53-65.
- Neuroscience news reveals that adaptive cycling can trigger network-level changes in the brains of Parkinson's disease patients, leading to measurable alterations in motor-related brain signals.
- In a study published in Clinical Neurophysiology, neurology researchers discovered that long-term adaptive cycling promotes neuroplasticity, demonstrated by increases in power and the 1/f exponent of the power spectrum in the dorsolateral region of the subthalamic nucleus.
- The study, focused on the impact of adaptive cycling on the activity of the subthalamic nucleus, showed that it may restore or strengthen disrupted neural connections in the brains of Parkinson's patients, providing potential symptom relief.
- This groundbreaking study follows from the work of other scientists, as interventions such as DBS and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) have been shown to promote cortical plasticity and reestablish brain connectivity associated with better motor function.
- The findings of the study could lead to personalized treatments for chronic diseases like Parkinson’s, improving health-and-wellness outcomes for those affected and offering a non-pharmacological intervention to complement existing treatments.
- Engaging in adaptive cycling as part of a fitness-and-exercise regime may support mental-health, contributing to overall well-being and potentially delaying motor decline due to Parkinson’s.
