Regular physical activity may help slow declines in movement, memory and thinking among people with Parkinson’s disease, according to research led by the University of Cincinnati. The study followed 294 patients with mild or moderate disease whose average age was 66.

Participants described their weekly physical activity through questionnaires and structured interviews. Researchers asked about moderate and vigorous activities performed at work, around the home and during recreation.

Moderate activity included brisk walking, light swimming and doubles tennis. Household tasks such as washing windows, vacuuming and mowing the lawn also counted as moderate physical activity, according to the study release.

Vigorous activities included jogging, fast bicycling, team sports and singles tennis. Shoveling and carrying heavy loads were also included in the vigorous category.

Researchers separated participants into three groups based on their reported weekly activity. The groups consisted of people completing up to four hours, four to eight hours and more than eight hours of physical activity each week.

The team tracked participants’ cognitive health for as long as five years and their motor function for as long as seven years. This allowed researchers to examine changes in both thinking and movement over an extended period.

Each additional hour of weekly physical activity was associated with slightly slower declines in memory, thinking and movement abilities. The association remained after researchers accounted for age, sex, education, weight and disease severity.

Patients who completed four to eight hours of physical activity each week experienced slower declines in memory and thinking than those who exercised for less than four hours. More than eight hours did not appear to provide further cognitive benefits.

The study was published Oct. 7 in Neurology, the official medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Its findings point to possible benefits from maintaining a regular activity routine, although the observational research could not establish that exercise directly slowed the disease.

“Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes movement and cognitive problems that gradually worsen, leading to disability and a loss of independence,” study author Dong-Woo Ryu, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Cincinnati and The Catholic University of Korea, said in the press release.

“Previous research has shown associations between physical activity and movement symptoms. Our study found physical activity may have dual benefits, with associations with slower declines in movement and cognition.”

Ryu said the potential benefits may depend on how long patients remain active and whether they continue exercising. He also cautioned that the differences detected among activity levels were small, even if their impact could grow with time.

“While our study found small differences between activity levels, these differences may become more meaningful over time,” Ryu said.

Dr. Vibhash Sharma, a neurologist at UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas, who specializes in Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, was not involved in the research. He said the findings add to the case for regular movement as part of managing the condition.

“Exercise has well-established benefits for physical fitness and mobility, along with potential benefits for brain health through mechanisms that are not yet fully understood,” Sharma told Fox News Digital. “These findings further emphasize the importance of regular physical activity in managing Parkinson’s disease.”

Sharma noted that following patients for several years and assessing both cognitive and motor function were strengths of the study. At the same time, researchers acknowledged several limitations that prevent the findings from proving a direct effect.

Participants reported their own physical activity, meaning they may not have remembered their exercise levels accurately. Most also began the study with relatively strong memory and thinking skills, and additional research will be needed to confirm the findings.

All participants were assessed at a single location and were primarily White, which researchers said could limit how broadly the results apply. Sharma also said patients whose disease naturally progresses more slowly may be more likely to remain physically active.

Randomized studies are needed to determine whether exercise directly slows cognitive or motor decline. The research received grant support from the Gardner Family Foundation and the Precision Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases Fund.