An interventional study of HV-PDAE: High Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise and MV-PDAE: Moderate Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise in Parkinson Disease, Movement Disorders and Neurodegeneration, sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 40 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-29.
Sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Veterans with mid to later stage Parkinson's disease (PD) may not be able to work out as hard as they need to, to prevent brain cell loss. Maybe they could work out longer and more frequently to make up for this during their good times and good weeks and then rest during the bad weeks. The investigators will compare how effective working out a lot one week per month with a break of three weeks is to continuously exercising weekly with no breaks in people with mid stage PD. The investigators will look at how fast participants walk per minute, whether they become more physically active, the biochemicals in their blood, and at how stiff their blood vessels are before and after the exercise.
For the first time, this project will define the impact of high volume (HV) exercise compared to moderate volume (MV) exercise for Veterans with moderate PD (Stages 2-3). Volume of aerobic exercise (AE) has not been previously well studied in PD, in moderate PD, nor in Veterans. Exercise is now prescribed as a first line therapy in PD. Exact combinations of frequency, duration (the product of which is volume) and intensity of AE need to be determined for optimal delivery of exercise for PD. In contrast to studies of high intensity exercise, which is being investigated in a major stage 3 clinical trial, SPARX3, few studies have examined the impact of volume, in particular HV in PD. As such, AE volume is primed for evaluation, for its effects on gait measures, and overall physical activity (PA). Like (SPARX3), evaluation of volume must include clinically-relevant behavioral measures, e.g., gait parameters, and disease severity; biomarkers of neurodegeneration, representing inflammatory, and neurotrophic mechanisms. Given the strong impact of PD on autonomic and sympathetic processes in PD (Sabino-Carvalho et al., 2020) cardiovascular and vascular processes should also be evaluated- particularly in moderate PD who have OFF-time and greater motor dysfunction. The investigators' published work shows HV light-moderate intensity Partnered dance AE (PDAE) (5 days/week, for 2-3 weeks) - improved gait, motor function and neuromuscular control in people with moderate PD. These functional changes were comparable to changes seen in programs of longer duration and lower weekly volume. PDAE has been tailored for Veterans with PD since 2011 and is adaptable for MV or HV. This project explores effects of exercise dosing that make good use of patients' high functioning times and will lead to enhance gait parameters and more PA. The primary outcome measure is preferred gait cadence, a clinically relevant variable for gait training studies, and which the data show is strongly associated with PA. At the Atlanta VA, for 13 years, Dr. Hackney (PI) and her team have developed a research infrastructure to investigate rehab treatments for Veterans with PD -most of whom have moderate stage PD. The expertise, resources and infrastructure the team has accumulated are crucial for the proposed work. This RCT assigns n=102 (34 per group) older Veterans with PD to 52 weeks of PDAE at HV or moderate volume (MV) or to a MV control (MVWALK). Overall exercise dose will be 112.5 hours over 52 weeks. MV-PDAE and MV-WALK classes will meet twice-weekly for 65-minutes. HV PDAE classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minutes for three weeks at trial onset followed by one HV week every 4 weeks for a year. Gait cadence will be measured with inertial sensors. PA will be measured with accelerometry and a questionnaire. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline (before intervention), and at 52 weeks (intervention end). The investigators assume 20% attrition and will recruit 21 additional participants, totaling 123 Veteran participants (41 per group). Aim 1 will compare the impact of AE volume on gait cadence and PA. Aim 2 will compare the impact of AE volume on blood biomarkers: IL-7, BDNF and CRP. Aim 3 will compare the impact of exercise volume on vascular function and aerobic capacity
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This study's planned enrollment of 123 is above the median of 40 across 3,353 interventional studies indexed under Parkinson Disease.
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Participants recruited for this study will be age 40 and older with diagnosis of "definite" PD based upon established criteria (Hughes, Daniel et al. 1992) and determined by a board-certified neurologist with specialty training in movement disorders. Individuals must have presented with asymmetric symptoms that included at least 3 of the cardinal signs of PD (rigidity, bradykinesia, tremor, postural instability), and must show clear symptomatic benefit (e.g., alleviated rigidity, bradykinesia, and tremor) from antiparkinsonian medications, e.g., levodopa (Kempster, Williams et al. 2007). They should be in H\&Y stages 2, 2.5 and 3, and receive a (MoCA) score >17 (Litvan, Goldman et al. 2012). Age 40 is the upper limit for young onset PD. The investigators will not recruit individuals with a history of significant alcohol or drug use, nor habitual users of antipsychotics. The investigators will observe patients while OFF their antiparkinsonian medications to avoid dyskinesia, and medication fluctuations that may impact neurophysiology and motor examination. The investigators have successfully observed patients while OFF in several previous trials. The following inclusion criteria apply:
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants recruited for this study will be age 40 and older with diagnosis of "definite" PD based upon established criteria (Hughes, Daniel et al. 1992) and determined by a board-certified neurologist with specialty training in movement disorders. Individuals must have presented with asymmetric symptoms that included at least 3 of the cardinal signs of PD (rigidity, bradykinesia, tremor, postural instability), and must show clear symptomatic benefit (e.g., alleviated rigidity, bradykinesia, and tremor) from antiparkinsonian medications, e.g., levodopa (Kempster, Williams et al. 2007). They should be in H\&Y stages 2, 2.5 and 3, and receive a (MoCA) score >17 (Litvan, Goldman et al. 2012). Age 40 is the upper limit for young onset PD. The investigators will not recruit individuals with a history of significant alcohol or drug use, nor habitual users of antipsychotics. The following exclusion criteria apply:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Short tests of memory and thinking, each scored out of 30. Lower scores suggest more difficulty; criteria give a range, either to include people with memory problems or to leave them out.
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
MMSE and MoCA
Short tests of memory and thinking, each scored out of 30. Lower scores suggest more difficulty; criteria give a range, either to include people with memory problems or to leave them out.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
NYHA class (heart failure)
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HV-PDAE classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minute sessions for 3 weeks at onset of trial and then every 4 weeks for a year. All participants will receive 6300 nin (105 h) of training. PDAE was adapted for older adults with balance impairments; modifications were made to the frame and steps of Argentine tango. People with PD partner an individual without PD, e.g., staff, caregiver, friend, or university student. The instructor, staff lead and assistants monitor participants for safety. Class sizes will consist of 6 or fewer pairs of participants with PD and partners. Participants with PD will dance with new partners (individuals without PD) every 15-20 minutes. Participants will learn new steps in each class. The class format includes practicing steps, warm-up, partnering and rhythmic exercises, learning new steps, combining old and new steps, cool down. PDAE classes follow a syllabus with new steps, rhythms and embellishments included in each class.
Behavioral: HV-PDAE: High Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise
MV-PDAE: MV classes will meet biweekly for 52 weeks for 65-minute sessions. All participants will receive 105h of training. PDAE was adapted for older adults with balance impairments; modifications were made to the frame and steps of Argentine tango. People with PD partner an individual without PD, e.g., staff, caregiver, friend, or university student. The instructor, staff lead and assistants monitor participants for safety. Class sizes will consist of 6 or fewer pairs of participants with PD and partners. Participants with PD will dance with new partners (individuals without PD) every 15-20 minutes. Participants will learn new steps in each class. The class format includes practicing steps, warm-up, partnering and rhythmic exercises, learning new steps, combining old and new steps, cool down. PDAE classes follow a syllabus with new steps, rhythms and embellishments included in each class.
Behavioral: MV-PDAE: Moderate Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise
MV-WALK (65-minute sessions): WALK will control for the walking that participants in PDAE do and will also take place in groups to control social effects of intervention. Walking for exercise expends 3 METS, like PDAE. (Knaggs et al., 2011) 65 minute sessions will consist of 15 minutes of warmup exercises, 45 minutes of walking with breaks ad libitum, and a 5-minute cool down. All participants will receive 105 h of training. Setting will be a designated, safe, non-cluttered area for walking- indoors or outdoors. This protocol is in line with recommendations for gait training to improve gait parameters, i.e., 2-3 days per week, for 30-60 minutes and with evidence that light-moderate intensity walking programs can lead to gains in gait parameters.
Behavioral: MV-WALK: Moderate Volume Walking
HV-WALK classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minute sessions for 3 weeks at onset of trial and then every 4 weeks for a year. All participants will receive 6300 minutes (105 h) of training. WALK will control for the walking that participants in PDAE do and will also take place in groups to control social effects of intervention. Walking for exercise expends 3 METS, like PDAE. (Knaggs et al., 2011) 90 minute sessions will consist of 25 minutes of warmup exercises, 45 minutes of walking with breaks ad libitum, and a 5-minute cool down. Setting will be a designated, safe, non-cluttered area for walking- indoors or outdoors. This protocol is in line with recommendations for gait training evidence that light-moderate intensity walking programs can lead to gains in gait parameters.
Behavioral: HV-WALK: High Volume Walking
HV-PDAE classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minute sessions for 3 weeks at onset of trial and then every 4 weeks for a year. All participants will receive 105h of training. PDAE was adapted for older adults with balance impairments; modifications were made to the frame and steps of Argentine tango. People with PD partner an individual without PD, e.g., staff, caregiver, friend, or university student. The instructor, staff lead and assistants monitor participants for safety. Class sizes will consist of 6 or fewer pairs of participants with PD and partners. Participants with PD will dance with new partners (individuals without PD) every 15-20 minutes. Participants will learn new steps in each class. The class format includes practicing steps, warm-up, partnering and rhythmic exercises, learning new steps, combining old and new steps, cool down. PDAE classes follow a syllabus with new steps, rhythms and embellishments included in each class.
MV-PDAE: MV classes will meet biweekly for 52 weeks for 65-minute sessions. All participants will receive 105h of training. PDAE was adapted for older adults with balance impairments; modifications were made to the frame and steps of Argentine tango. People with PD partner an individual without PD, e.g., staff, caregiver, friend, or university student. The instructor, staff lead and assistants monitor participants for safety. Class sizes will consist of 6 or fewer pairs of participants with PD and partners. Participants with PD will dance with new partners (individuals without PD) every 15-20 minutes. Participants will learn new steps in each class. The class format includes practicing steps, warm-up, partnering and rhythmic exercises, learning new steps, combining old and new steps, cool down. PDAE classes follow a syllabus with new steps, rhythms and embellishments included in each class.
MV-WALK (65-minute sessions): WALK will control for the walking that participants in PDAE do and will also take place in groups to control social effects of intervention. Walking for exercise expends 3 METS, like PDAE. (Knaggs et al., 2011) 65 minute sessions will consist of 15 minutes of warmup exercises, 45 minutes of walking with breaks ad libitum, and a 5-minute cool down. All participants will receive 105 h of training. Setting will be a designated, safe, non-cluttered area for walking- indoors or outdoors. This protocol is in line with recommendations for gait training to improve gait parameters, i.e., 2-3 days per week, for 30-60 minutes and with evidence that light-moderate intensity walking programs can lead to gains in gait parameters.
HV-WALK classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minute sessions for 3 weeks at onset of trial and then every 4 weeks for a year. All participants will receive 6300 minutes (105 h) of training. WALK will control for the walking that participants in PDAE do and will also take place in groups to control social effects of intervention. Walking for exercise expends 3 METS, like PDAE. (Knaggs et al., 2011) 90 minute sessions will consist of 25 minutes of warmup exercises, 45 minutes of walking with breaks ad libitum, and a 5-minute cool down. Setting will be a designated, safe, non-cluttered area for walking- indoors or outdoors. This protocol is in line with recommendations for gait training evidence that light-moderate intensity walking programs can lead to gains in gait parameters.
Gait cadence
Gait Cadence is the number of human steps taken per minute while walking.
Time frame: 52 weeks
Physical activity scale for the elderly (PASE)
This questionnaire is very comprehensive and assesses an older adults' activity level within the previous week by totaling their involvement in a variety of physical activities. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 400. Higher scores indicate better outcomes.
Time frame: 52 weeks
vascular function: Pulse wave velocity and Aortic index
Pulse wave velocity and augmentation aortic index are valid and reliable measures of vascular function. Pulse-wave velocity (PWV) is a measurement of arterial stiffness and is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. It can be assessed simply and noninvasively by measuring the carotid and femoral pulse pressures and the time delay between the two or by other methods relying on pulse-wave analysis.
Time frame: 52 weeks
inflammatory cytokine expression: Brain derived neurotrophic factor and c-reactive protein
BDNF: This neurotrophic factor plays an important role in neuronal survival and growth, serves as a neurotransmitter modulator, and participates in neuronal plasticity, which is essential for learning and memory. Other studies have shown it increased in expression after structured long term exercise in populations with neurodegenerative disease. CRP: C reactive protein is a protein made by the liver. The level of CRP increases with inflammation in the body. Some studies have shown decreased levels of CRP in patients who underwent exercise.
Time frame: 52 weeks
VO2 max- maximum oxygen consumption
Vo2 max is the maximal amount of oxygen that someone can use during intense or maximal exercise. It is a good indicator of cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance.
Time frame: 52 weeks
inflammatory cytokine expression: and c reactive protein
These are both blood biomarkers derived from serum. Inflammatory cytokine expression: An inflammatory cytokine is a type of cytokine (a signaling molecule) that is secreted from immune cells and certain other cell types that promotes inflammation. Inflammatory cytokines are predominantly produced by T helper cells (Th) and macrophages and involved in the upregulation of inflammatory reactions. CRP: C reactive protein is a protein made by the liver. The level of CRP increases with inflammation in the body. Some studies have shown decreased levels of CRP in patients who underwent exercise.
Time frame: 52 weeks
Six minute walk test
The 6 Minute Walk Test is a sub-maximal exercise test used to assess aerobic capacity and endurance. The distance covered over a time of 6 minutes is used as the outcome by which to compare changes in performance capacity.
Time frame: 52 weeks
gait speed (m/s)
Preferred and fast as possible gait speed will be measured with motion capture (APDM opals) over a 20 foot path. The speed is reported in meters per second.
Time frame: 52 weeks
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