Can exercise dose alter BDNF levels in Parkinson's patients?
NCT ID NCT06339398
First seen Sep 02, 2026 · Last updated Sep 03, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot study tests whether different volumes of aerobic exercise produce different changes in a blood marker called BDNF, which supports brain health. Researchers will enroll 30 adults with Parkinson's disease and assign them to either a standard rehabilitation program (180 MET-minutes per week) or an intensive one (1350 MET-minutes per week). The main goal is to see if the exercise dose affects BDNF levels after four weeks, which could help tailor exercise prescriptions for Parkinson's.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Standardized aerobic exercise at two different volumes (180 vs 1350 MET-minutes per week)
- What this could lead to
- If higher exercise volume boosts BDNF more, it could guide tailored rehabilitation prescriptions for Parkinson's disease.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study with 30 participants, so results may not generalize. It measures biomarkers, not long-term clinical outcomes, and exercise effects can vary widely.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 30 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Feb 2025
- Expected to finish
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May 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A research network
The lead sponsor is a research network or cooperative group.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Patients with Parkinson's Disease
- Ages
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30 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease according to the United Kingdom (UK) Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank * Aged between 30 and 80 years * Disease stage II-III in "ON" phase according to modified Hoehn and Yahr (H\&Y) * Having no severe cognitive impairment: * Mini-Mental State Examination-MMSE ≥24 * Montreal Cognitive Assessment - MoCA ≥ 17/30 * Under stable dopaminergic pharmacological treatment * Motor condition that permits to execute 6-Minutes Walking Test (6MWT) * Willing to participate in the study, understand the procedures and sign the informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of neurological disorders not related to Parkinson's disease * Musculoskeletal diseases that could impair gait and execution of exercise program * Presence of known cardiovascular disease that can compromise the performance required by the protocol * Presence of diabetes or other metabolic and endocrine disease * Uncontrolled hypertension (resting blood pressure \>150/90 mmHg) * Individuals with orthostatic hypotension and systolic pressure in feet below 100 will be excluded. Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a reduction in systolic blood pressure of at least 20 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure of at least 10 mmHg within 3 minutes of standing. * Hypo- or hyperthyroidism (TSH \<0.5 or \>5.0 mU/L), abnormal liver function (AST or ALT more than 2 times the upper limit of normal, ULN), alteration of kidney function. * Values of complete blood test out of range and abnormal value clinically significant as per clinical judgment. * Recent use of psychotropic drugs (e.g. anxiolytics, hypnotics, benzodiazepines, antidepressants) in which the dosage was not stable for 28 days before screening * Severe disease (requiring systemic treatment and/or hospitalization) in the last 4 weeks. * Any other clinically significant medical condition, psychiatric condition, drug or alcohol abuse, laboratory evaluation or abnormality that, in the opinion of the investigators, would interfere with the subject's ability to participate in the study. * Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI) score \> 28, indicating a severe depression that precludes the ability to exercise. * (Only for women) State of pregnancy. * Other disorders, injuries, diseases or conditions that may interfere with the ability to perform exercises (e.g. history of stroke, breathing problems, traumatic brain injury, orthopaedic injury or neuromuscular disease).
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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San Raffaele Cassino
RECRUITINGCassino, Frosinone, 03043, Italy
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