Effects of chronic Tai Chi Chuan and aerobic exercise interventions on motor and neurocognitive performance in early-stage Parkinson’s disease
- Conditions
- Parkinson’s diseaseNeurological - Parkinson's disease
- Registration Number
- ACTRN12623001250628
- Lead Sponsor
- ational Science and Technology Council
- Brief Summary
The present study investigated and compared the effects of chronic Tai Chi Chuan and aerobic exercise interventions on neurocognitive performance in patients with early-stage PD. Twelve weeks of both types of exercise exhibited the potential to ameliorate the progressive decline in motor and neurocognitive functioning in such patients. The participants’ post-intervention UPDRS motor subscale scores were significantly lower than their pre-intervention scores in both exercise groups. In addition, both types of exercise resulted in a significantly increased P3 amplitude, although only the aerobic exercise also improved RT performance, as assessed using the WM task. However, neither intervention improved ARs or the N2 component measured during the cognitive task. In contrast, the control group exhibited a significant increase in UPDRS-III motor scores and a decrease in P3 amplitude over the 12-week period, suggesting that maintaining their sedentary lifestyle resulted in further motor and neurophysiological decline.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- Completed
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 43
The clinical inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) a confirmed diagnosis of PD by neurologists at the Neurology Department of one of the above hospitals, and a medically stable status; (b) a modified Hoehn & Yahr score between 1 and 2, indicating early-stage PD; (c) the absence of any major comorbidities, such as dementia or depression; (d) no brain abnormalities (e.g., stroke or malignant brain tumor) on structural MRI scans; (e) age between 50 and 80 years; (f) confirmed ability to complete exercise training, as determined using the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) and by their treating neurologist; and (g) willingness to be randomly assigned to one of the exercise intervention groups or the control group.
Exclusion criteria were as follows: (a) a history of any neurological disease other than PD; (b) a diagnosis of dementia based on a MMSE or Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score of < 24; (c) moderate or significant depression, as assessed based on a score of > 16 for the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II); (d) use of medication that interferes with cognition, alertness, or attention; or (e) previous or current participation in an exercise training program.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method