Session Information
Date: Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Session Title: Phenomenology and Clinical Assessment Of Movement Disorders
Session Time: 1:15pm-2:45pm
Location: Exhibit Hall C
Objective: A multitude of risk factors or protective factors in developing Parkinson’s Disease (PD) are under discussion, as caffeine consumption or smoking .
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Background: Frequent physical activity is considered as a protective factor in PD, too. Decreasing activity levels among patients with PD starting about 2-4 years prior to the PD diagnosis probably mirror the declining dopaminergic system influencing movement ability and reward Systems
Methods: We assessed the Lifetime sport years (Ltsy) and actual sporting behavior in 20 consecutive PD patients (PDP) treated in our rehabilitative care unit.
Results: 12 males (m), 8 women (w) mean age 63 years (y), range 49 – 83, disease duration 7y (range 1-21y), mean H+Y stage 3 (range 3-4) were included. Ltsy mean 25y, (range 0-50). Actually active in sports 5 PDP, not active 15 PDP. The active PDP (aPDP) and passive PDP (pPDP) differed in mean Ltsy markedly: aPDP mean 40 y (range 40), pPDP mean 20 y (range 0-50). school grades in sports (range 1-4) were better in aPDP 1,4 mean (range 1-2), pPD 2,2.(1-4 ).
Conclusions: In our well characterized cohort 5 aPDP developed PD during active sporting, 15 developed PD, although Ltsy up to 50 y. Therefore our data do not support the hypothesis that physical activity is very protective in PD.
Due to the small size of our cohort, however, we cannot rule out that differences in dopaminergic function even in disease triggered by lifelong sporting behavior may be a factor. Differently hampered reward systems in aPDD and pPDP may be also an explanation, too. Subtypes of PD in different aspects are a matter of debate.
Our data do not support a marked protective effect of sporting in our cohort. Due to small sample size, however, further studies with appropriate numbers are necessary. Other factors e.g. smoking behavior, L-Dopa dysregulation syndrome or impulse control disorders should be assessed, too.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
M. Strothjohann, P. Kostopoulos, F. Weber. Sports or no sports – is that the question in PD? [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2017; 32 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/sports-or-no-sports-is-that-the-question-in-pd/. Accessed June 15, 2025.« Back to 2017 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/sports-or-no-sports-is-that-the-question-in-pd/