Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that impairs motor skills and cognitive processes. A few of the common symptoms include tremors, rigidity and postural instability. Dementia can develop in later stages. The onset of Parkinson's disease is commonly associated with progressive age. Exercise works as a therapeutic and palliative measure to lessen the severity of symptoms but cannot ultimately cure the disease.
Effects
According to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, exercise eases secondary symptoms such as depression, in addition to maintaining and improving mobility, flexibility, balance and range of motion in the body. David Lehman, Ph.D., P.T., and Mark Hirsch, Ph.D., state, "In addition to helping with movement, researchers now believe that exercise may influence the progression of Parkinson's disease. Most of this research is based on animal models of Parkinson's, but some of the findings may apply to humans."
Onset
During the course of Parkinson's disease, neurons --- the brain cells that produce chemical transmitters --- are damaged and lost; however, there is a lag between the onset of degeneration and the time during which the symptoms begin to show. By the time that most people are diagnosed, almost 80 percent of their dopamine neurons --- the neurotransmitter that has a role in movement and cognition --- are gone.
Exercise
During the lag time, the brain is attempting to compensate for the loss of dopamine neurons that occurs through neurodegeneration. This is endemic to the way in which the brain naturally reshapes itself in response to new experiences. Exercise is believed to contribute to neuroplasticity by helping the brain to maintain old connections, form new connections and restore lost connections. On a day-to-day basis, those who exercise tend to move better than those who do not.
Depression
According to Dr. Matthew Menza from the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, at least 40 percent of people with Parkinson's disease experience clinical depression at some point, causing symptoms such as poor appetite, sleep disturbances, fatigue, feelings of guilt, self-criticism, worthlessness, irritability and anxiety. Most specialists believe that depression is caused by a combination of living with stress of the chronic disease and changes in the neurochemistry of the brain that accompany Parkinson's.
Significance
Regular exercise can be therapeutic for two reasons: It helps to naturally relieve stress and tension, thus reinvigorating your sense of well-being, and it helps the brain to begin using dopamine more efficiently by modifying the areas where dopamine is received. It's also important to make other lifestyle changes to improve your mental well-being. These changes can include healthy eating and social involvement.
