---
title: Aerobic exercise slows Parkinson progression
nct_id: NCT05854524
phase: NA
status: RECRUITING
sponsor: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT05854524"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05854524"
last_fetched: "2026-05-10T14:03:01.851Z"
source: "Parkinson's Pathways (curated)"
---
# Aerobic exercise slows Parkinson progression

**Goal (in five words):** Aerobic exercise slows Parkinson progression

**Official Title:** Exploring the Biological Basis for Exercise Neuroprotection in Parkinson's Disease

**Trial ID:** [NCT05854524](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05854524)

## Key Facts

- **Phase:** NA
- **Status:** RECRUITING
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Sponsor:** University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- **Target Enrollment:** 90 participants
- **Start Date:** 2024-08-29
- **Completion Date:** 2026-05-30
- **Conditions:** Parkinson Disease
- **Interventions:** Aerobic exercise
- **Intervention Types:** PROCEDURE

## Summary For Families

Goal: to find out how moderate aerobic exercise might protect dopamine-producing brain cells in Parkinson's by triggering biological changes that support brain health. Approach: participants do 30 minutes of continuous moderate aerobic exercise with 2-3 short breaks while researchers measure blood markers and other signals, looking for increased blood flow and growth factors like BDNF, improved mitochondrial function, and reduced inflammation. The study compares people with Parkinson's to healthy adults to see which responses are disease-specific. Eligibility: adults 30 to 85, people with Parkinson's must have a neurologist diagnosis and be able to do the 30-minute exercise; anyone with major exercise risks, uncontrolled cardiovascular or respiratory issues, or dementia (MoCA 21 or below) is excluded, and controls must be generally healthy and able to exercise.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 30 Years
- **Maximum age:** 85 Years
- **Sex:** ALL

### Full Criteria

```
Inclusion criteria for PwP:

* 30-85 years old
* Neurologist-diagnosed PD
* Able to participate in 30 minutes of continuous moderate aerobic exercise with 2-3 short breaks per self-report.

Inclusion criteria for controls:

* 30-85 years old
* No major medical diagnoses
* Able to participate in 30 minutes of continuous moderate aerobic exercise with 2-3 short breaks per self-report.

Exclusion Criteria for both PD group and controls:

* Diagnoses, identified by self-report, that would preclude exercise participation (e.g., heart arrhythmias, uncontrolled blood pressure, exercise-induced asthma).
* Those not deemed ready for exercise participation. Participants will be screened for exercise participation using the Physical Activities Readiness Questionnaire + which is used as a screening tool for all ages to identify risk factors that would clear someone for participation in moderate physical exercise.
* Those with dementia will be excluded because there are self-report questionnaires in this study. This will be identified using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and a score at or below a 21. Participants with mild cognitive impairment and no impairment will be included.
```

## Locations (1)

- Gait and Balance Laboratory, 217 Bigelow Health Sciences Building, UNLV, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States _(36.1750, -115.1372)_
  - Merrill Landers, PT, DPT, PhD — (CONTACT) — 7028951377 — merrill.landers@unlv.edu
  - (CONTACT) — merrill.landers@unlv.edu
  - Merrill Landers, PT, DPT, PhD — (CONTACT)

## Central Contacts

- Merrill Landers, DPT, PhD — (CONTACT) — 17028951377 — merrill.landers@unlv.edu

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT05854524*  
*HTML version: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT05854524*  
*Source data: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05854524*