---
title: Boost brain energetics using exercise
nct_id: NCT04426786
phase: NA
status: RECRUITING
sponsor: "Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre"
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT04426786"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04426786"
last_fetched: "2026-05-10T14:03:22.790Z"
source: "Parkinson's Pathways (curated)"
---
# Boost brain energetics using exercise

**Goal (in five words):** Boost brain energetics using exercise

**Official Title:** The Effect of Exercise on Brain Energetics in Parkinson's Disease

**Trial ID:** [NCT04426786](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04426786)

## Key Facts

- **Phase:** NA
- **Status:** RECRUITING
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Sponsor:** Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre
- **Target Enrollment:** 40 participants
- **Start Date:** 2021-01-26
- **Completion Date:** 2025-12-30
- **Conditions:** Parkinson Disease
- **Interventions:** Active exercise, Passive exercise
- **Intervention Types:** OTHER

## Summary For Families

The goal is to see whether regular exercise can boost brain energy metabolism in people with mild to moderate Parkinson's, which might help movement and thinking by improving how brain cells make and use energy. Participants do either active exercise, a supervised aerobic program meant to raise heart rate, increase blood flow, and stimulate mitochondrial energy production in the brain, or passive exercise where limbs are moved without active exertion, and changes in brain energetics are tracked with MRI and other tests; the program includes about 72 classes with a goal of completing at least 60. The trial is looking for people aged 40 to 80 with idiopathic Parkinson's at Hoehn and Yahr stages I to III who currently exercise less than 120 minutes per week, can tolerate being off Parkinson's meds for up to 24 hours, are medically cleared for aerobic testing, and do not have major medical, psychiatric, or MRI contraindications.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 40 Years
- **Maximum age:** 80 Years
- **Sex:** ALL

### Full Criteria

```
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Idiopathic PD according to UK Brain Bank criteria (modified to permit inclusion of subjects with a family history)
2. Mild to moderate Parkinsonism (Hoehn \& Yahr stages I-III)
3. Currently exercise less than 120 minutes per week (PD non-exercisers)

General exclusion criteria:

1. atypical Parkinson syndrome (progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, drug-induced etc.);
2. significant osteoporosis or arthritis;
3. history of cancer within 5 years of study participation;
4. high dose of radiation from other procedures within the year;
5. not able to tolerate being off PD medication for up to 24 hours;
6. a female subject who is breast-feeding or pregnant;
7. current or past substance use problems;
8. serious head injury with loss of consciousness for ≥ 5 minutes;
9. people with other chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney problems, high blood pressure, other known neurological disorders, or heart diseases;
10. people who report having a significant respiratory disorder (e.g. asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)) or using home oxygen will be excluded to avoid discomfort or breathing difficulties from respiratory manipulations.
11. current or past neurological disorder (e.g. strokes, seizures, neurodegenerative disease other than Parkinson's disease);
12. current or past psychiatric disorders (e.g. depression, anxiety disorders);
13. severe claustrophobia (a fear of closed in spaces);
14. weight of more than 158kg (347 lbs);
15. inability to lay still for up to 90 minutes;
16. are not medically cleared to exercise;
17. certain medications or conditions may impact participant's ability to participate and these will be discussed on a case by case basis with the participant and the study team.

MRI-specific exclusion criteria:

1. Machinist or metalworkers;
2. cardiac pacemakers, wires, or defibrillator;
3. past injury where a piece of metal lodged in your eye or orbit;
4. ferromagnetic aneurysm clip;
5. artificial heart valve;
6. electrical stimulator for nerves or bones;
7. ear or eye implant;
8. implanted drug infusion pump;
9. coil, catheter, or filter in any blood vessel;
10. orthopedic hardware (artificial joint, plate, screws);
11. other metallic prostheses;
12. shrapnel, bullets, or other metal fragments;
13. dentures, braces, or retainer;
14. surgery (brain or otherwise), tattoos, or injection into a joint in the last 6 weeks;
15. pierced body parts (other than earrings) or tattooed eyeliner;
16. non-MRI safe intrauterine device (IUD).

Subjects may be excluded following study enrollment if they meet any of the following exclusion criteria:

1. significant cognitive impairment or depression;
2. significant or unstable cardiovascular or respiratory disease - all subjects will undergo a screening aerobic exercise test;
3. failure to comply with the exercise intervention program by not completing at least 60 of the 72 exercise classes.
```

## Locations (1)

- Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada _(49.2497, -123.1193)_
  - Jess McKenzie — (CONTACT) — 604-822-7764
  - Vesna Sossi, PhD — (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)
  - A. Jon Stoessl, MD — (SUB_INVESTIGATOR)

## Central Contacts

- Jessamyn McKenzie — (CONTACT) — 604 822 7764 — jess.mckenzie@ubc.ca

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT04426786*  
*HTML version: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT04426786*  
*Source data: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04426786*