---
title: Exercise improves walking and thinking
nct_id: NCT07478146
phase: NA
status: RECRUITING
sponsor: Raphael Mendes Ritti Dias
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07478146"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07478146"
last_fetched: "2026-05-10T14:08:12.816Z"
source: "Parkinson's Pathways (curated)"
---
# Exercise improves walking and thinking

**Goal (in five words):** Exercise improves walking and thinking

**Official Title:** Effects of Aerobic Training on Cerebrovascular Function, Cognitive Performance and Gait Parameters in Patients With Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

**Trial ID:** [NCT07478146](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07478146)

## Key Facts

- **Phase:** NA
- **Status:** RECRUITING
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Sponsor:** Raphael Mendes Ritti Dias
- **Target Enrollment:** 40 participants
- **Start Date:** 2026-02-28
- **Completion Date:** 2027-06-30
- **Conditions:** PARKINSON DISEASE (Disorder)
- **Interventions:** Aerobic training, Usual Care
- **Intervention Types:** BEHAVIORAL

## Summary For Families

Researchers are testing whether regular moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can improve brain blood flow, thinking, and walking in people with Parkinson's. Participants do supervised aerobic workouts that raise the heart rate into a moderate zone to boost cerebrovascular reactivity and brain oxygen delivery, which may support cognitive performance and gait; the program is compared with usual care and is meant to complement, not replace, medications like levodopa. The trial is looking for adults 40 and older with Parkinson's at Hoehn and Yahr stages 1 to 3, who can walk independently, have a MoCA score of 18 or higher, have been on stable antiparkinsonian medication for at least four weeks, and are medically cleared for moderate exercise.

## Eligibility

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

### Full Criteria

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* Clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease
* Hoehn \& Yahr stages 1-3
* Stable antiparkinsonian medication for at least 4 weeks
* Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score ≥ 18
* Ability to walk independently (with or without assistive device)
* Medical clearance for participation in moderate-intensity exercise

Exclusion Criteria:

* Change in medication
* Contraindication to exercise
```

## Locations (1)

- Associação Brasil Parkinson, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil _(-23.5475, -46.6361)_
  - Verônica Souza, MD — (CONTACT) — +55 11 97445-9125 — veronica.souza82@yahoo.com.br

## Central Contacts

- Raphael M Ritti-Dias, PhD — (CONTACT) — +5519999406878 — raphaelritti@gmail.com
- Hélcio Kanegusuku, PhD — (CONTACT) — +55 11 99539-9557 — helciokng@gmail.com

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07478146*  
*HTML version: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07478146*  
*Source data: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07478146*