Regular physical activity is linked to a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, a connection highlighted by researchers and summarized by the American Academy of Neurology. Regular movement is an affordable, accessible way to support overall health, and scientists set out to learn whether it might specifically protect against this challenging, currently incurable neurodegenerative condition.
Parkinson’s disease primarily affects older adults and gradually disrupts mobility. It can produce tremors, stiffness, and slowing of movement, which together can undermine independence and quality of life. The study explored whether different levels of daily activity could influence the likelihood of developing the disease later in life and how the benefits of staying active extend beyond general fitness to neurological resilience.
The investigation followed a large cohort of 95,354 women, most of whom were teachers, none of whom had Parkinson’s disease at the outset. The average age was around 49 years. Over a span of about three decades, researchers tracked how participants moved through life, collecting detailed information about their routines. Participants reported how much they walked, the number of flights of stairs climbed each day, hours spent on housework, and time allocated to sedentary leisure activities like gardening, as well as more physically demanding pursuits such as sports and outdoor recreation. This comprehensive activity diary allowed scientists to map long-term behavior against the emergence of Parkinson’s symptoms decades later.
During the follow-up period, 1,074 participants developed Parkinson’s disease. When the data were split into groups based on activity level, clear differences emerged. The segment with the highest level of daily physical activity recorded 246 cases of Parkinson’s disease, equivalent to 0.55 per 1,000 person-years. In contrast, the group with comparatively lower activity showed 286 cases, or 0.73 per 1,000 person-years. These results suggest that higher overall activity correlates with a reduced risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, underscoring the value of staying routinely active as a potential protective factor for brain health.
Experts emphasize that while exercise cannot cure Parkinson’s, maintaining an active lifestyle supports cardiovascular health, weight control, and metabolic balance—all of which contribute to better brain function and resilience. The findings encourage individuals to incorporate varied movements into daily life, such as brisk walking, stair climbing, cycling, group fitness classes, or sport participation, tailored to personal ability and safety. Even modest, consistent activity appears capable of making a meaningful difference over many years, reinforcing the idea that staying active is a practical, low-cost strategy for supporting long-term neurological well-being.