Delayed Clinical Manifestation of Parkinson's Disease Among Physically Active: Do Participants in a Long-Distance Ski Race Have a Motor Reserve?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Physical activity is associated with reduced risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). The explanations for this association are not completely elucidated. We use long-term PD-incidence data from long-distance skiers to study the relationship between exercise and PD.

Objective

We aimed to investigate if physical activity is associated with long-term lower risk of PD and if this association could be explained by physically active people being able to sustain more PD neuropathology before clinical symptoms, a motor reserve.

Methods

Using a prospective observational design, we studied whether long-distance skiers of the Swedish Vasaloppet (n = 197,685), exhibited reduced incidence of PD compared to matched individuals from the general population (n = 197,684) during 2

SUBMITTER: Olsson TT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7029367 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature