Can exercise help slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease in patients? That’s the question a team of professors and student researchers at Sacramento State University is trying to answer with a new study. Gwnalle Begue and Dr. Matt JN Brown, both professors at the university, are leading the research. More than 20 people from the Sacramento region are participating in the study, which began this summer. It involves at-home and in-person exercises with research staff at the Human Performance Research Laboratory. Participant Tony Cepeda, of Citrus Heights, said he receives an email every week where he tracks and reports on his activity and exercise levels. The email also features a video that shows participants different exercises they can do. For the in-person test, participants ride stationary bikes while connected to equipment that monitors things like oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and heart rate. Blood is also drawn a few times after a workout to see how exercise affects Parkinson’s patients on a molecular level. Other tests are also done. Brown said the ultimate goal is to see if doctors can prescribe exercise to patients as a way to slow or stop symptoms of the disease. “If we can find a level of exercise and/or other non-invasive therapeutics that can lead to disease modifications that can slow or even stop progression, that would be an amazing thing,” he said. For Cepeda, 68, he said he doesn’t feel the symptoms as much, especially the tremors, when he works out. He said he exercises regularly with boxing, walking and physical therapy. “I have Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s doesn’t have me,” Cepeda said. He learned about the study through the Parkinson’s Association of Northern California, of which he is a member. a member. Your hope? Help this team get closer to finding a cure. “As long as they find something that could help someone in the future in their research,” he said. “I’m just trying to do my little part.”
Can exercise help slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease in patients?
That’s the question a team of professors and student researchers at Sacramento State University is trying to answer with a new study.
Dr. Gwnalle Begue and Dr. Matt JN Brown, both professors at the university, are leading the research. More than 20 people from the Sacramento region are participating in the study, which began this summer.
It involves at-home and in-person exercises with research staff at the Human Performance Research Laboratory.
Participant Tony Cepeda of Citrus Heights said he receives an email every week where he tracks and reports his activity and exercise levels. The email also features a video that shows participants different exercises they can do.
For the in-person test, participants ride stationary bikes while connected to equipment that monitors things like oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and heart rate. Blood is also drawn a few times after a workout to see how exercise affects Parkinson’s patients on a molecular level. Other tests are also done.
Brown said the ultimate goal is to see if doctors can prescribe exercise to patients as a way to slow or stop symptoms of the disease.
“If we can find a level of exercise and/or other non-invasive therapeutics that can lead to disease modification, that can slow or even halt progression, that would be an incredible thing,” he said.
For Cepeda, 68, he said he doesn’t feel the symptoms, especially the tremors, as much when he exercises. He said he exercises regularly with boxing, walking and physical therapy.
“I have Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s doesn’t have me,” said Cepeda.
He learned about the study through the Parkinson’s Association of Northern California, of which he is a member.
Your hope? Helping this team get closer to finding a cure.
“As long as they find something that could help someone in the future in their research,” he said. “I’m just trying to do my little part.”
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