Importance of Exercise for Patients with Parkinson Disease and APOE ℇ4

Among PD patients with APOE ℇ4, exercise was associated with less cognitive decline.

A small number of patients with Parkinson disease (PD) have an APOE ℇ4 genetic allele. This study used the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative cohort to examine if exercise could modify cognitive decline in this select group. They administered a self-reported physical activity assessment, the Physical Activity Scale of the Elderly, to patients with newly diagnosed PD at years 2, 3, and 4, along with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) screening instrument.

Among the 173 participants (mean age at year 2, 63.3 years; 27% APOE ℇ4 carriers), the APOE ℇ4 allele group had a significantly steeper rate of cognitive decline than those without the allele (estimated difference, −1.33). There was an interaction between physical activity APOE…

Reviewing Author

Michael S. Okun, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America

Speaker’s BureauMedscape/WebMD CME, Movement Disorders Society CME, American Academy of Neurology CME

RoyaltiesBooks4Patients; Demos; Cambridge; Taylor and Francis; Robert Rose; Public Affairs

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America; University of Florida Foundation

Editorial BoardsTremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements; JAMA Neurology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesParkinson’s Foundation (Medical Advisor)