Aerobic exercise-induced changes in fluid biomarkers in Parkinson's disease

Nijee S Luthra; Niyati Mehta; Miranda J Munoz; Giamila Fantuzzi; Guillaume Lamotte; Jacob M Haus; Nikolaus R McFarland; Malú G Tansey; Paulina Gonzalez-Latapi; Gabriela Caraveo; Un Jung Kang; Daniel M Corcos

doi:10.1038/s41531-025-01042-8

Aerobic exercise-induced changes in fluid biomarkers in Parkinson's disease

NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2025 Jul 1;11(1):190. doi: 10.1038/s41531-025-01042-8.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. nijee.luthra@ucsf.edu.
² Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
³ Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
⁴ Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
⁵ School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
⁶ Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
⁷ Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida Health, Gainesville, FL, USA.
⁸ Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
⁹ Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
¹¹ Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. Un.Kang@nyulangone.org.

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms that progressively deteriorate and for which there is no disease-modifying pharmacological treatment. Exercise is widely recommended for individuals with PD due to its potential neuroprotective benefits. However, the mechanisms underlying these exercise-induced effects in PD remain poorly understood. Analyzing fluid biomarkers responsive to exercise could offer valuable insights into the mechanisms by which exercise impacts PD and aid in optimizing exercise prescriptions for individuals with PD. This review explores exercise-responsive biomarkers categorized into three key groups-neurotrophic, inflammatory, and neuroendocrine markers. It highlights both well-validated biomarkers and candidates with promising potential. We also highlight key biomarkers linked to PD pathology, such as α-synuclein, and their potential connection to exercise based on current evidence. Comprehensive characterization of these biomarkers will advance our understanding of the biological effects of exercise in PD, enabling mechanism-based and objective measures to evaluate exercise response in future clinical trials and its impact on PD signs and symptoms.

Publication types

Review

Abstract

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