FoundMyFitness · 2020-10-14 · Rhonda Patrick (host), Giselle Petzinger
Dr. Giselle Petzinger on Exercise for Parkinson's Disease
38 claims checked against research: 3 overstated 1 needing context 30 supported 4 unverified
3 Overstated
Eight weeks of intensive treadmill training three times per week increases dopamine receptor expression in the basal ganglia by 80 to 90 percent in Parkinson's disease patients.
"some of the work coming out of Dr. Petzinger's lab showed that eight weeks of intensive treadmill training three times per week can increase the expression of dopamine receptors in the basal ganglia by 80 to 90 percent in Parkinson's disease patients." (said at 0:01:03)
A pilot study from Dr. Giselle Petzinger's research group (Fisher et al., 2013) evaluated four individuals with early-stage Parkinson's disease randomized to either intensive treadmill exercise (3 sessions per week for 8 weeks) or no exercise. Using [18F]fallypride PET imaging, the investigators observed an increase in striatal dopamine D2 receptor binding potential in the exercising Parkinson's patients. While the intervention protocol and general findings align with the claim, presenting this as established evidence that intensive treadmill exercise increases basal ganglia dopamine receptor expression by 80 to 90 percent overstates a very small pilot study (n=4) that measured radioligand binding potential rather than direct receptor expression.
- partial: Treadmill exercise elevates striatal dopamine D2 receptor binding potential in patients wi… (Neuroreport 2013) · cited 248x in the literature
"In this pilot study, four patients with early-stage PD were randomized to receive intensive exercise (treadmill training sessions three times/week for 8 weeks) or no exercise. Two healthy age-matched individuals participated in treadmill training. Alterations in the DA-D2R binding potential (BP) as a marker for receptor expression were determined using PET imaging with [18F]fallypride... Our data showed an exercise-induced increase in [18F]fallypride BP as well as improved postural control in patients with PD who exercised." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi)
Parkinson's disease affects approximately 1 in 100 people over the age of 50.
"the idea is that 1 in 100 over the age of 50 have Parkinson's disease" (said at 0:15:19)
A systematic review and meta-analysis of global epidemiological studies shows that Parkinson's disease (PD) prevalence increases markedly with age but does not reach 1 in 100 (1%) at age 50. For individuals aged 50–59 years, pooled prevalence is 107 per 100,000 (~0.1% or ~1 in 1,000). The 1% threshold (approximately 1,087 per 100,000) is reached in the 70–79 age group, with rates rising to ~1.9% in those over 80. Stating that 1 in 100 people over 50 have Parkinson's overstates the prevalence for individuals in their 50s and 60s by several-fold.
High doses of DHA reduce L-dopa-induced dyskinesias in both rodent and non-human primate MPTP models of Parkinson's disease.
"Some interesting animal models, both rodents and primates, showing in the MPTP model, where you kind of induce these Parkinson's-like symptoms, that taking pretty high dose of DHA specifically—what would be a human equivalent dose of like for a 180-pound man, like three grams a day pretty much, which is like six pills of standard fish oil—in both the rodent models and the non-human primate models, lowered the L-dopa-induced dyskinesias that can happen." (said at 1:13:50)
The claim is overstated. Studies in MPTP-treated non-human primates demonstrated that high-dose docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) significantly reduced or delayed levodopa-induced dyskinesias without reducing the therapeutic antiparkinsonian efficacy of levodopa. However, extending this specific effect to MPTP rodent models of levodopa-induced dyskinesia is inaccurate; rodent studies on DHA and dyskinesia evaluated neuroleptic (haloperidol)-induced dyskinesia rather than levodopa-induced dyskinesia in MPTP models. Furthermore, evidence derived entirely from animal models provides very low certainty regarding human clinical outcomes.
- supports: Docosahexaenoic acid reduces levodopa-induced dyskinesias in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tet… (Annals of neurology 2006) · cited 105x in the literature
"DHA administration reduced LIDs in both paradigms without alteration of the anti-parkinsonian effect of levodopa indicating that DHA can reduce the severity or delay the development of LIDs in a nonhuman primate model of Parkinson's disease." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi) - supports: Nur77 mRNA levels and L-Dopa-induced dyskinesias in MPTP monkeys treated with docosahexaen… (Neurobiology of disease 2009) · cited 38x in the literature
"We have previously shown that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) significantly reduced L-Dopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) monkeys" (abstract, introduction, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi)
Unverified means no publication matching the claim was located; it does not prove the claim false. Spotted an error? See the corrections policy - disputes from the people quoted are prioritized.