Objective: To determine if pre-diagnosis exercise and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genotype are predictive of age at diagnosis and severity of balance impairment.

Background: Studies suggest that exercise may confer neuroprotective benefit when implemented before the pre-clinical and prodromal stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Additionally, levels of BDNF, theorized to be neuroprotective in PD, are affected by its genotype and exercise.

Method: This cross-sectional study involved the participation of 76 individuals with PD. Buccal cells were collected to determine BDNF genotype and the modified Lifetime Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to determine moderate and vigorous physical activity (PA) habits during the following life stages: 20s, 30s, and 40s. Because of multicollinearity, these 3 life stages were averaged for both moderate and vigorous PA. PD symptoms were determined using the Movement Disorder Society – Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale III (MDS-UPDRS-III) and the Mini-Balance Evaluations Test (MBT).

Results: The final hierarchical regression model for prediction of age at diagnosis produced an R2 = 0.146, p=.033; however, the only significant variable in the final model was average moderate PA from ages 20s to 40s (p=.009). The regression for MDS-UPDRS III was not significant; however, the regression for MBT was, p=.0499. In the final model, 23.1% of the variance was explained. Years since diagnosis (p=.014) and average vigorous PA from ages 20s to 40s (p=.047) were the only significant predictors in the final model.

Conclusion: While an interaction between BDNF genotype and lifetime PA was not observed, our results suggest that pre-diagnosis PA may be neuroprotective in PD. We found that higher amounts of moderate PA was associated with a younger age at diagnosis. Specifically, every hour increase in weekly moderate lifetime PA was associated with a PD diagnosis a little over a quarter of a year later. Additionally, we found that higher amounts of vigorous lifetime PA was associated with better balance performance when corrected for age at diagnosis. We had anticipated that BDNF might play a role in potentiating the neuroprotection but the low and non-significant correlations, though headed in the correct direction (i.e., val/val carriers having an older age at diagnosis), suggests that BDNF genotype may only play a minor role.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/pre-diagnosis-physical-activity-habits-are-associated-with-age-of-diagnosis-and-postural-instability-in-parkinsons-disease/