Once again, we have a news article that discusses many of the reasons why Parkies should work out aerobically (and intensely). Click here for this update from the Sioux City Journal.
Golly gee, I could cut and paste practically the entire article for its pithy quotables. But here are just a few:
Ongoing aerobic exercise may slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease, a progressive disorder of the nervous system.
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That doesn’t mean stretching or balance exercises are not helpful, Ahlskog notes. Those types of exercises help with Parkinson’s symptoms, such as rigid muscles, slowed movement or impaired posture and balance.
But to help fight the progression of Parkinson’s disease, including dementia — one of the most feared long-term outcomes of the disease — Ahlskog points to scientific studies that show aerobic exercise enhances factors that potentially have a protective effect on the brain.
For instance, aerobic exercise liberates trophic factors — small proteins in the brain that behave like fertilizer does when applied to your lawn. Exercise helps maintain brain connections and counters brain shrinkage from Parkinson’s disease as well as from brain aging, says Ahlskog, author of “The New Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Book,” which further explores the benefits of aerobic exercise.
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Ahlskog emphasizes one important component of an exercise program for Parkinson’s disease: Be certain you have worked with your doctor to optimize your medication, specifically carbidopa/levodopa. Once patients with Parkinson’s disease slow down, adequate carbidopa/levodopa is necessary to optimize quality of life and facilitate engagement in exercise.
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It’s refreshing to hear that if you increase your aerobic exercise, you may be able to cut back on Parky meds such as the love-it-hate-it Sinemet.
And any kind of aerobic exercise will do, as long as you push yourself and get that blood pounding in your brain. Examples below. (Note: all photos on this page are free-to-use “labeled for noncommercial reuse” snapshots that I downloaded from the Internet. They’re not part of the Sioux City Journal article.)
