An exciting discovery that simply riding a bike can reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) sparked a new study at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Dr. Jay Alberts is leading a clinical trial to learn more about the therapeutic effects of exercise on motor and brain function in patients suffering from the disease.

Although the cause or causes of the disease remain unknown, after cycling, some patients afflicted with the disease have regained motor skills and dexterity.

Alberts took an interest in researching the connection between exercise and PD after discovering that a friend’s handwriting was significantly improved after she spent time on the back of a tandem bike.  Alberts conducted a small study in Cleveland with 10 participants and found significant improvements in PD patients after engaging in what is called “forced exercise,” in which the pedals on the stationary bike move at a rate 30% faster than the speed the cyclist can achieve on his own.

Since May, Alberts has been directing an expanded version of the study at the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Participants complete three training sessions per week for eight weeks and are tested at various intervals for improvements in manual dexterity.

Whether or not the participants see a direct improvement in motor skills, engaging in consistent exercise has other empowering benefits, so no one has yet dropped out of the trial –  a rare statistic for a clinical study of this kind.

For more information, call (702) 483-6047.

Photo: Kathy Nagle and Pete Becker in the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health