According to a study published in the journal Neurology, practicing sport reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease in women. Exercising a sport may even be beneficial more than 20 years before diagnosis.
According to a study conducted by Inserm, sport does indeed reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease in women. Physical activity would even be beneficial more than 20 years before the diagnosis.
A 25% risk reduction
For this study, 100,000 women were followed by French scientists. According to the results of the study, published in the journal Neurologywomen who engage in physical activity between the ages of 30 and 50 reduce their risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by 25% compared to those who do not exercise.
Indeed, moving improves physical condition, but exercise mainly leads to changes in the brain. “Physical activity could improve nerve conduction at the level of circuits that are involved in the control of motor skills. It is known that people who have more physical activity have certain areas of the brain that are more functional. And that is so that we imagine that physical activity could have a role in Parkinson’s disease”, explains Alexis Elbaz, neurologist and director of research at Inserm.
These results show the benefits of practicing physical activity as early as possible in life to prevent the development of the disease thirty years later. Researchers now wish to understand which type of activity in particular and which intensity are the most beneficial on neurodegenerative pathologies.
Source: Europe1
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