In a nutshell: Exercise helps to keep your mitochondria working, and that helps to slow down the loss of your dopaminergic neurons. Here we have an application of the old rat race to a rat model of PD – in which treadmill exercise helped to keep mitochondria functioning properly, while sedentary rats lost dopaminergic cells.

Physical exercise protects against mitochondria alterations in the 6-hidroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson’s disease

These “results suggest a neuroprotective and progressive effect of intermittent treadmill exercise, which could be related to its benefits on mitochondrial biogenesis signaling and respiratory chain modulation of the dopaminergic system in PD.”

But other studies and reviews have shown other factors that affect the progression of PD, so don’t put all of your metaphorical eggs in one basket – a review that covers some of those various factors:

Narrative Review of Lifestyle Factors Associated with Parkinson’s Disease Risk and Progression

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