Brazilian dance could improve mobility in people with Parkinson’s, study finds

News

Author: Sophie BatesPublished: 10 September 2020

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Researchers at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil compared participants in a 12-week programme, inspired by samba and forró dances, with those in a walking exercise programme to measure improvement in their functional mobility and gait.

The 18 participants had an average age of 68.6 and had all been diagnosed with Parkinson’s over a year ago.

The results, published in journal BMC Neurology, found that both groups showed significant improvements in mobility and balance tests. Participants in the dance group showed increases in stride frequency at a self-chosen test speed and a reduced swing time (the amount of time the foot is off the floor) at a fast speed.

The results indicated that dance was as “effective as walking in improving functional mobility”.

The researchers wrote: “It is essential to find different activities that can offer benefits to individuals… so that they can engage in the one that best ensures wellbeing and pleasure.”

To read more on this topic, click here.

For more information on the latest Parkinson’s research please visit the Parkinson’s Europe website.

Researchers present in-depth review of 145 clinical trials for Parkinson’s

Last Month

Next Month

Go Back

Share this story

Comments

Global update

Parkinson’s in the news: November

A roundup of Parkinson’s news stories in November

Tom Isaacs: a celebration

Hundreds gather to celebration of life of Parkinson’s campaigner

Parkinson’s Cafés: your regular dose of coffee and companionship

Dutch cafés are buzzing - and it's not just the caffeine

Could a sea sponge support the search for Parkinson’s disease treatments?

How could a molecule in a sea sponge help treat Parkinson’s and similar conditions? Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in the US, recently explored this question. Their findings were published in the journal ‘Science’. The team examined a molecule known as lissodendoric acid A, which appears to counteract other molecules that damage DNA, proteins and whole cells – and was recently discovered in a sea sponge. The research team used an oft-neglected compound called a cyclic allene to control a step in the chain of chemical reactions, which enabled them to create a version of the molecule in a lab. Scientists believe that the ability to synthetically produce lissodendoric acid A will help them assess whether it can inform future therapies for conditions like Parkinson’s. UCLA’s Professor Neil Garg, the corresponding author of the study, said: “We hope others will also be able to use cyclic…

Study finds just six minutes of daily exercise might delay onset of Parkinson’s disease

Regular exercise is a common therapeutic strategy for people with Parkinson’s. Now, a study from New Zealand has suggested that daily physical activity might even delay the onset of this condition. Published in ‘The Physiological Society’, the study focused on a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) – which has previously been shown to boost cognitive performance. The researchers assessed the impact of fasting and physical activity on BDNF production in 12 people aged 18 to 56. The tests involved fasting and completing exercises of varying intensity, such as cycling for six minutes, as well as combinations of both fasting and physical activity. The results showed that brief, intense exercise was the best option for increasing the production of BDNF – with the protein increasing by a factor of four to five times compared to light exercise or fasting. Because BDNF can protect the brain from cognitive decline, the findings could…

Machine learning may help predict risk of freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease

Difficulty taking steps forward, often referred to as the freezing of gait (FOG), is a common symptom experienced by people with Parkinson’s and one that can be difficult to predict. China-based researchers suggest that machine learning – artificial intelligence (AI) that uses algorithms to analyse data – could help predict the risk of freezing of gait developing in the early stages of the condition. Their study, published in ‘npj Parkinson’s Disease’, gave laboratory and clinical data to a machine learning model brain. This information was collected from 158 adults with untreated early-stage Parkinson’s and 73 healthy adults over a five-year period. They found that the risk of FOG could be predicted with an accuracy rate of up to 78%. The study authors suggested that machine learning methods “have the potential to help predict future FOG in patients with early Parkinson’s at an individual level”.

All fields required

First name*
Last name*
Email address*
Enter Email Confirm Email
Country of residence*
About me*
- I have Parkinson's disease
- I am a partner / carer / family / friend of someone who has Parkinson's
- I am a healthcare professional with an interest in Parkinson's
- I work for a Parkinson's disease organisation
- Other
CAPTCHA
*
- By proceeding you agree to our
Comments
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Brazilian dance could improve mobility in people with Parkinson’s, study finds

News

Author: Sophie BatesPublished: 10 September 2020

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Global update

Parkinson’s in the news: November

Perspectives

Tom Isaacs: a celebration

In my country

Parkinson’s Cafés: your regular dose of coffee and companionship

Could a sea sponge support the search for Parkinson’s disease treatments?

Study finds just six minutes of daily exercise might delay onset of Parkinson’s disease

Machine learning may help predict risk of freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease

{title}

Subscribe

Brazilian dance could improve mobility in people with Parkinson’s, study finds

News

Author: Sophie BatesPublished: 10 September 2020

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Related articles

Global update

Parkinson’s in the news: November

Perspectives

Tom Isaacs: a celebration

In my country

Parkinson’s Cafés: your regular dose of coffee and companionship

Could a sea sponge support the search for Parkinson’s disease treatments?

Study finds just six minutes of daily exercise might delay onset of Parkinson’s disease

Machine learning may help predict risk of freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease

{title}

Subscribe

Sign in