---
title: Enhance Parkinsons cognition via exercise
nct_id: NCT06580977
phase: NA
status: RECRUITING
sponsor: Heidelberg University
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT06580977"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06580977"
last_fetched: "2026-05-10T14:08:23.216Z"
source: "Parkinson's Pathways (curated)"
---
# Enhance Parkinsons cognition via exercise

**Goal (in five words):** Enhance Parkinsons cognition via exercise

**Official Title:** Exploring the Effects of Exercise on Memory and Cognition in Parkinson´s Disease

**Trial ID:** [NCT06580977](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06580977)

## Key Facts

- **Phase:** NA
- **Status:** RECRUITING
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Sponsor:** Heidelberg University
- **Target Enrollment:** 60 participants
- **Start Date:** 2024-02-27
- **Completion Date:** 2026-12
- **Conditions:** Parkinson Disease
- **Interventions:** cardiovascular training, stretching
- **Intervention Types:** BEHAVIORAL

## Summary For Families

They want to know whether regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise can improve memory and other thinking skills that often decline in Parkinson's. Participants will do a supervised aerobic training program or a stretching program as a low-intensity comparison; the aerobic work raises heart rate to increase blood flow and oxygen delivery and to stimulate brain-supporting factors like BDNF that help learning and memory. Exercise does not directly change how levodopa works, so it is meant to complement existing medications rather than replace them. Looking for people aged 50 to 80 with Parkinson's at Hoehn and Yahr stage 3 or lower who can stand and walk 10 meters, are naive to the memory tests, have only mild or no cognitive impairment (MoCA 21+), no deep brain stimulation, no major psychiatric or other conditions that would interfere, and who are not already doing high levels of cardiovascular exercise.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 50 Years
- **Maximum age:** 80 Years
- **Sex:** ALL

### Full Criteria

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed Parkinson's disease
* Disease stage ≤3 on the Hoehn \& Yahr scale
* Age ranging from 50 - 80 years
* Naive to the memory tasks (primary outcomes)
* Ability to stand and walk at least 10 meters independently

Exclusion Criteria:

* Atypical Parkinsonism
* Significant level of cognitive impairment (i.e., Montreal Cognitive Assessment \<21)
* Deep brain stimulation or brain pacemaker
* Diagnosed psychiatric illness
* Known clinically relevant neurological, internal or orthopedic conditions besides Parkinsonism that would interfere with the exercise paradigm
* Exceeding the recommended level of cardiovascular exercise for older adults (i.e., cardiovascular exercise done ≥150 min per week of moderate-intensity or ≥75 min per week of vigorous-intensity)
```

## Locations (1)

- Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany _(49.4077, 8.6908)_
  - Simon Steib, Prof. Dr. — (CONTACT) — +49 6221/544643 — simon.steib@issw.uni-heidelberg.de
  - Philipp Wanner, Dr. — (CONTACT) — +49 6221/544633 — philipp.wanner@issw.uni-heidelberg.de

## Central Contacts

- Simon Steib, Prof. Dr. — (CONTACT) — +49 6221/544643 — simon.steib@issw.uni-heidelberg.de
- Philipp Wanner, Dr. — (CONTACT) — +49 6221/544633 — philipp.wanner@issw.uni-heidelberg.de

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT06580977*  
*HTML version: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT06580977*  
*Source data: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06580977*