Parkinson's disease has affected lives of millions and there has not been any cure discovered until now. In a statement released by National Parkinson's Disease Foundation, there are at least 1.5 million Americans affected by the disease right now. Although there isn't any cure, a few studies have been made to help counteract the disease. A handful of these studies suggest that movement and exercise therapy can actually greatly relieve patients suffering this dreadful disease.
According to researchers from the University of Montreal, Parkinson's is actually caused by the death of specific brain cells that have the tendency to exhaust themselves and die prematurely. This is also associated with the degeneration of the basal ganglia of the brain and a deficiency of dopamine. Scientists believe that exercise can serve as a preventive measure for cells burnout according to Pulse as published in Journal Current Biology. This is a progressive disease of the nervous system that affects movements leading to rigidity and gait disorders and gradually worsens over time. The person suffering from the disease losses control over non-motor and motor skills.
In the study published by Sun Herald, the findings suggest that walking is an effective method to prevent the onset of Parkinson's disease, as exercise seems to release natural proteins that are referred to as growth factor which influences the brain neurons and fortifies them.
Dr. Carlos Singer, director of the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine said that exercise is the "hot topic" in neurology, as it also concerns Parkinson's disease. Dr. Singer said that there was evidence which showed exercise makes a difference as far as reducing the progression of this disease is concerned and that it is good for cognitive ability and physically as well. It gives the patients the ability to improve their memory and think clearly.
The foundation partnered with UHealth Fitness and Wellness Center to create a free cycling class in Miami for Parkinson's patients. This is a part of a trending in the medical community to promote movement for patients suffering from the disease and improve their quality of life. According to the report, patients showed improvements in strength and overall wellness after results came out from pre and post testing. Moreover, there's also the social benefit of exercise which greatly help those who feel isolated because of the disease. Exercising in groups help them experience social benefits that further improve their wellbeing.