Objective: We investigated a modulation effect of amyloid copathology on the influence of regular physical activity on the progression of Parkinson disease (PD).
Background: Physical activity and exercise have long been postulated as promising interventions in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the specific pathological determinants that may influence the efficacy of physical activity remain poorly understood.
Method: The study included 245 PD patients from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) who completed the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) at least three times over more than four years. Regular physical activity was quantified using both average and adjusted PASE scores, with the adjusted scores accounting for age at onset and baseline motor severity. The influence of regular physical activity levels and amyloid copathology on motor severity and biomarker levels were investigated using linear mixed effect (LME) models.
Results: In the LME model for overall motor severity, amyloid positivity showed a significant modulation on the effect of physical activity. (interaction term between physical activity levels, disease duration, and amyloid positivity; average PASE, estimate 5.951E-5, p = 0.037; adjusted PASE, estimate 5.065E-3, p = 0.011) Average PASE was associated with a slower increase of serum neurofilament light chain (NfL; estimate -2.025E-4, p = 0.020), however, influence of physical activity was not observed in patients with amyloid burden. In amyloid-negative group, physical activity levels were also associated with an attenuated increase of total tau in cerebrospinal fluid. (estimate -8.140E-6, p = 0.001)
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that amyloid copathology may attenuate the protective effects of regular physical activity on the progression of motor severity and neurodegeneration in PD patients.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
MJ. Lee, K. Pak, M. Kim, JH. Lee. Amyloid status as a moderator of the association between physical activity and progression of Parkinson’s disease [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/amyloid-status-as-a-moderator-of-the-association-between-physical-activity-and-progression-of-parkinsons-disease/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/amyloid-status-as-a-moderator-of-the-association-between-physical-activity-and-progression-of-parkinsons-disease/