Objective:

Background:

Physical activity is known to influence the dopaminergic system, with evidence suggesting slower disease progression in PD patients who maintain higher levels of physical activity. This study aims to explore the association between physical activity levels, assessed using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), and dopaminergic function, as measured by dopamine transporter single photon emission computed tomography (DaT-SPECT), in PD patients

Design/Methods:

 Data on DaT-SPECT, total PASE scores, and clinical assessments (Movement Disorder Society’s Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, MDS-UPDRS) were obtained from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) dataset. DaT-SPECT data was processed following PPMI imaging protocols and analyzed under the 'DaTScan_SBR_Analysis' item. Spearman partial correlations were used to assess the relationship between PASE scores and DaT-SPECT specific binding ratios (SBR) in the caudate and putamen, controlling for age and disease severity (MDS-UPDRS III).

Results:

A total of 233 PD patients with available DaT-SPECT results and PASE scores were included in the analysis. A significant positive correlation was found between physical activity (total PASE score) and DaT-SPECT signal in the putamen (r=0.18, p<0.01), but no significant correlation was observed in the caudate (r=0.08, p=0.12) in PD patients. 

Conclusions:

This study reveals significant associations between self-reported physical activity levels and dopaminergic function in the putamen in patients with PD using PPMI data first time. Further controlled studies, including longitudinal follow-up, are necessary to draw more definitive conclusions regarding the impact of physical activity on the dopaminergic system in PD.