More physical activity may be linked to slower progression of some Parkinson’s disease symptoms

A study published October 7, 2026, in Neurology® showed that staying physically active may have benefits for both movement and thinking skills in people with Parkinson’s disease.

The study included nearly 300 people with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease who were an average age of 66. Participants were followed for up to seven years. Each year, researchers assessed their movement symptoms and thinking and memory skills.

Participants reported how much moderate and vigorous physical activity they did at work, at home, and during hobbies and recreation. Moderate activities included brisk walking, light swimming, vacuuming, and mowing the lawn. Vigorous activities included jogging, fast bicycling, team sports, shoveling, and carrying heavy loads.

The people who reported more than eight hours of physical activity per week had a slower decline in thinking and memory and slower worsening of movement symptoms than people who reported four hours or less of physical activity per week.

When researchers separated activity time from intensity, the total activity time was still associated with slower declines, while vigorous activity on its own was not. This suggests that the amount of time people spend being active may be more important than how hard they exercise.

However, the study does not prove that physical activity caused the slower declines. Participants reported their own activity, which may not always have been accurate, and researchers noted that people whose Parkinson’s disease progressed more slowly may have been better able to remain active.