Objective:

To examine gender and race/ethnicity differences in physical activity (PA) in Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background:

PA may slow disease progression and improve symptoms in PD. However, people with PD are less active than healthy individuals, even in early stages. While gender differences have been suggested in the general population, and PA tends to be lower in racial/ethnic minorities, this has not been well studied in PD.

Design/Methods:

We examined self-reported activity scores using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) in participants with and without PD from the Fox Insight Study. Primary outcomes included differences in total PASE scores by gender, race, and ethnicity. Adherence to the American Heart Association (AHA) and Parkinson Foundation exercise recommendations, stratified by these demographic factors was evaluated, alongside employment status and income.

Results:

A total of 29,212 participants with PD were included (13,035 women and 16,117 men). The cohort included 28,171 White, 244 Black, 286 American Indian, 511 Asian; and 2,130 Hispanic participants. Men with PD had significantly higher PASE scores than women (123.4 vs. 112.9, p<0.001). Men also outperformed women in the recreational and household activity subscores, and this pattern was consistent across age groups. PD participants had lower PASE scores compared to controls, except for men<65 years. Non-white race was associated with lower PASE scores (p<0.001), and Hispanic ethnicity was correlated with lower adherence to both AHA (p=0.039) and PD exercise guidelines (p=0.04). Income and employment status positively influenced PASE scores and guideline adherence, but even after adjusting for these factors, racial/ethnic and gender differences remained significant.

Conclusions:

Women and racial/ethnic minorities, particularly Hispanic individuals, demonstrate lower PA levels and are less likely to meet recommended exercise guidelines. Targeted interventions addressing the specific needs of women and minority groups are crucial to promoting PA within these populations.