Approximately one in four patients with Parkinson’s disease presents from the early stages with mild cognitive impairment. In many cases, this condition progresses to dementia, and there are currently no pharmacological therapies proven to prevent its progression. In recent years, neuroscientific research has highlighted how non-pharmacological factors—including exercise, nutrition, and cognitive stimulation—significantly influence brain plasticity and neuronal resilience.
Physical activity, in particular, represents a true “biological drug” capable of modulating inflammation, improving neurogenesis, and promoting functional connectivity between the cortical networks involved in memory and attention.
The MOVE-BRAIN-PD Project
The Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Foundation for Health Care and Education has launched the MOVE-BRAIN-PD project (Movement improves brain health and cognition in Parkinson’s disease), an ambitious international study designed to demonstrate that aerobic physical activity can enhance cognitive functions and slow their decline in Parkinson’s disease.
The project is funded under the ERA4Health Joint Transnational Call for Proposals 2024 – “Modulation of brain ageing through nutrition and healthy lifestyle” (NutriBrain) and is coordinated by Professor Paolo Calabresi, Director of the Neurology Unit at Gemelli IRCCS and Professor of Neurology at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.
An International Research Network
MOVE-BRAIN-PD brings together a multidisciplinary consortium of excellence: the Gemelli Foundation and the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, with Professor Anna Rita Bentivoglio coordinating the clinical trial; Transilvania University of Brasov (Romania), with Professor Cristian Falup-Pecurariu, leading patient recruitment; the University Medical Center Goettingen (Germany), directed by Professor Tiago Outeiro, responsible for molecular analyses and the study of alpha-synuclein modifications, a key protein in the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease.
The kick-off meeting, held in Rome on September 19, 2024, confirmed the operational start of activities and underscored the full synergy among the involved European research centers.
Aims and Methodology of the Study
The study aims to evaluate the impact of a home-based aerobic training program, remotely monitored, on cognitive function and motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease and mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI). Participants will undergo exercise sessions twice a week for one year, with clinical assessments and blood draws to analyze biomarkers of inflammation, neurodegeneration, and modifications in alpha-synuclein.
A further objective is to identify factors that facilitate or hinder adherence to physical activity programs, with the goal of developing personalized, sustainable educational interventions.
Toward a New Lifestyle Medicine
As Professor Calabresi emphasizes, “demonstrating that people with Parkinson’s disease can and should be active participants in their care by changing their lifestyle is essential.” The project’s results could contribute to the development of national recommendations and prevention strategies similar to those used for cardiovascular diseases, promoting a culture of active patient engagement.
MOVE-BRAIN-PD thus represents a significant step toward preventive neurology, grounded in targeted and scientifically validated exercise protocols that can improve quality of life and, over time, alter the clinical trajectory of Parkinson’s disease.
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