Can increased physical activity slow cognitive decline in early Parkinson's disease?

This trial is testing whether increasing your daily physical activity can help slow cognitive decline in people at risk for Parkinson's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies. Researchers will ask you to either roughly double your daily steps and activity level, or make a smaller increase, and track changes in thinking and memory over time using a smartphone app. The study focuses on people with isolated REM sleep behavior disorder—an early warning sign that someone may develop Parkinson's disease—since this is an ideal time to try lifestyle interventions before significant cognitive problems develop.

Cognitive decline—problems with memory, thinking, and decision-making—affects most people with Parkinson's disease and can significantly impact quality of life. Currently, there are few treatments for cognitive problems in these conditions. Since physical activity has shown promise in slowing brain aging, researchers want to test whether increasing exercise early on, before major symptoms appear, might help protect thinking and memory.