| Parkinson’s disease is characterized by a series of motor symptoms(bradykinesia,resting tremor,rigidity,postural and gait disorders)and non-motor symptoms(cognitive dysfunction,autonomic dysfunction,sleep disorders,depression and anxiety),leading to low quality of life.This study aims to explore the impact of exercise on Parkinson’s disease and its possible mechanism.65 early-stage Parkinson’s disease patients were enrolled into the study and divided into three groups: Tai Chi group(n = 32),brisk walking group(n = 18)and control group(n = 15).The three groups received one-year Tai Chi training,brisk walking training and no-exercise intervention,respectively.We assessed all the subjects at baseline,6months and 12 months.The assessment included motor symptoms(the severity of motor symptoms,gait and balance,lower limbs EMG),non-motor symptoms(cognition,autonomic function,sleep,fatigue and emotion)and quality of life.Each subject recieved resting-state functional MRI scan and venous blood collection.Whole brain functional connectivity was used as the index for resting-state functional MRI and the m RNA level of HIP2 was used as the blood biomarker.The results showed that Tai Chi training significantly relieved the severity of motor symptoms,improved the gait and balance,prevented the amplitude of lower limbs EMG from going down,improved non-motor symptoms(including frontal-subcortical cognition,cortical cognition,autonomic function,sleep,sleepiness,fatigue,depression and anxiety),and improved the quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease;brisk walking did not relieve the severity of motor symptoms,but improved the gait and balance,and prevented the amplitude of lower limbs EMG from going down.Brisk walking also improved the prefrontal-subcortical cognition,sleep,depression,anxiety and quality of life in patients.In addition,Tai Chi training could strengthen the functional connectivity in the brain,and increase the m RNA level of HIP2(Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 K)in the blood.In conclusion,Tai Chi can improve the motor symptoms,non-motor symptoms and quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease.Both Tai Chi and brisk walking are effective ways to treat Parkinson’s disease,but Tai Chi therapy can bring patients with more benefits than brisk walking.The possible mechanism of Tai Chi therapy maybe associated with the reinforcement of brain functional connectivities and the enhancement of the function of ubiquitin-proteasome system. |
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