<p><strong>Giselle Petzinger</strong></p> <p>Giselle Petzinger, MD, an associate professor of Neurology at the University of Southern California, studies the extensive effects of how different types of exercise, in particular skill-based exercise, can affect the clinical outcome for people with Parkinson's disease.</p> <p>Dr. Petzinger's work focuses on understanding how to promote brain repair after injury, particularly in the context of Parkinson's disease. She is currently investigating ways to enhance neuroplasticity in a preclinical model of the disease. She has examined the role of exercise in Parkinson's disease, with emphasis on how different types of exercise affect distinct regions of the brain. Her work has implications for improving the quality of life of patients diagnosed with the neurological disorder — a condition for which there is no cure.</p> <p><strong>In this episode, we discuss:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>(00:00)</strong> Introduction</li> <li><strong>(06:57)</strong> What is Parkinson's disease?</li> <li><strong>(11:57)</strong> When symptoms of Parkinson's disease appear </li> <li><strong>(14:57)</strong> Circuits in the brain can compensate for substantia nigra dysfunction</li> <li><strong>(18:37)</strong> Hereditary risk factors of Parkinson's disease</li> <li><strong>(21:25)</strong> Parkinson's disease is associated with pesticide and pollutant exposure</li> <li><strong>(26:57)</strong> Exercise can lower the risk of developing Parkinson's disease</li> <li><strong>(35:38)</strong> How skill-based exercise such as boxing reduces disease symptoms </li> <li><strong>(47:49)</strong> Treadmill exercise increased BDNF and brain health</li> <li><strong>(58:33)</strong> Exercise at 80 percent of maximum heart rate slowed Parkinson's disease progression </li> <li><strong>(01:01:31)</strong> Why exercise may not fully replace medications </li> <li><strong>(01:09:58)</strong> DHA reduces motor symptoms and dyskinesia </li> <li><strong>(01:12:12)</strong> Patients with Parkinson's disease have higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers</li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you're interested in learning more, you can read the <a href="https://www.foundmyfitness.com/episodes/giselle-petzinger">full show notes here</a>.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Join o</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">ver 300,000 people and get the latest distilled information on Parkinson's disease straight to your inbox weekly:</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.foundmyfitness.com/newsletter">https://www.foundmyfitness.com/newsletter</a></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Become a FoundMyFitness premium member to get access to exclusive episodes, emails, live Q+A's with Rhonda and more:</span> <a href="https://www.foundmyfitness.com/crowdsponsor"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://www.foundmyfitness.com/crowdsponsor</span></a></p> <p> </p>
Actionable Insights
1. High-Intensity Exercise Protocol
Engage in moderate to high-intensity exercise for at least 30 minutes, three times a week, including a warm-up and cool-down. This regimen has been shown to slow Parkinson’s disease progression, improve motor scores, and increase dopamine receptors, allowing the brain to use remaining dopamine more efficiently.
2. Incorporate Skill-Based Exercise
Integrate skill-based activities such as Tai Chi, yoga, non-contact boxing, tango, or skateboarding into your routine. These activities require motor learning, challenge balance, and engage top-down cognitive circuits, driving brain repair mechanisms and improving function.
3. Seek Professional Exercise Guidance
Work with a physical therapist or personal trainer periodically to receive one-on-one feedback, ensure proper technique, and continuously challenge yourself. This guidance helps you progress, avoid injury, and gain a toolset for effective practice, especially for gait and balance.
4. Challenge Your Exercise Comfort
Actively push yourself beyond your comfort zone during exercise by increasing speed, accuracy, balance, or dynamic movement. Making activities harder and problem-solving how to improve them engages the brain more actively and drives greater benefits.
5. Combine Exercise with L-Dopa
Do not use exercise as a replacement for L-dopa medication, but rather as a complementary treatment. L-dopa alleviates symptoms like slowness and stiffness, enabling you to move better and get the most out of your exercise practice.
6. Vary Exercise & Environment
Mix up your exercise routines and environments to introduce novelty and mental flexibility. Changing activities and exploring new spaces provides additional cognitive loading, which is crucial for brain health and repair.
7. Cultivate Exercise Motivation & Support
Set clear goals, understand the data-backed benefits, and identify accessible resources and community support. Engaging family and friends can provide motivation, making exercise a shared lifestyle change rather than an individual burden.
8. Embrace Lifelong Learning & Play
Engage in activities that involve learning new skills, such as playing musical instruments or taking up new sports like racquetball. This approach fosters mental flexibility, exploration, and play, which are crucial for brain health at any age.
9. Adopt Mediterranean-Style Diet
Consider adopting a Mediterranean-style diet, which includes fish, less sugar, green vegetables, nuts, and legumes. This dietary pattern is generally recommended based on epidemiological data for overall health and may help modulate disease progression by reducing inflammation.
10. Prioritize Lifestyle for Neurological Health
Recognize that lifestyle choices, particularly exercise, account for approximately 50% of the treatment for any neurological disorder. Clinicians should emphasize lifestyle changes as a fundamental component of patient care.