Clinical Research Directory

Slowing Parkinson's Early Through Exercise Dosage-United Kingdom

Sponsor: Queen Mary University of London

Summary

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the fastest growing neurological condition worldwide and currently has no treatment that slows or prevents it. Research shows that regular exercise may help protect the brain and delay symptoms. This study will test whether a long-term, home-based exercise programme can help people who are at increased risk of Parkinson's because they have a reduced sense of smell (called "hyposmia"). Hyposmia is a common early sign that can appear years before the movement symptoms of Parkinson's. The study, called Slow-SPEED UK, will recruit 110 adults aged 40 and over who have hyposmia and are currently not very active (walking less than 7,000 steps a day). Participants will first complete a four-week baseline period to confirm eligibility, then be randomly assigned (like flipping a coin) to one of two groups: Full-dose exercise group - encouraged to gradually double their daily step count using a fitness tracker and smartphone app. Low-dose control group - encouraged to increase daily steps by 10% using the same tools. Both groups will use the study's fitness tracker and app, which provides goals, feedback, and motivation through gamification. The programme lasts 18 months, with assessments at the start, mid-point (9 months), and end (18 months). Some participants may also give optional blood or skin samples to help researchers explore biological changes linked to early Parkinson's. The main question this study will answer is whether a remote, app-based programme can successfully increase daily step counts in people with hyposmia. Researchers will also look at whether exercise affects other outcomes such as exercise intensity, mood, sleep, smell, movement, quality of life, and early biological markers of Parkinson's. The study is designed as a feasibility trial. This means its main goal is to test whether the programme is practical, acceptable, and safe for participants. Results will inform larger future studies that could test whether structured exercise can delay or prevent Parkinson's disease in at-risk groups. Because exercise is already known to have many health benefits, all participants are expected to gain from taking part, regardless of whether they eventually develop Parkinson's.

Official title: Slowing Parkinson's Early Through Exercise Dosage - United Kingdom

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