Parkinson’s disease affects more than 10 million people worldwide. Evidence suggests that exercise markedly improves the quality of life for those with the condition. A recent study found that different exercise training intensities have varied effects on symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Researchers randomly assigned 29 people with Parkinson’s disease to either 10 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). They measured the participants' change in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak, a measure of cardiorespiratory fitness) and changes in their motor symptoms, fatigue, cardiovascular measures, gait, balance, strength, and endurance.
They found that exercise training increased the participants' VO2peak, especially among those in the HIIT group. Participants' motor symptoms improved over time, but with little difference between the two groups. Both groups reported less fatigue, but their gait, balance, blood pressure, and heart rate did not change. Participants' strength increased similarly in both groups, but only the HIIT group showed increased muscular endurance.
These findings suggest that high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training effectively improve cardiorespiratory fitness and reduce motor symptoms and fatigue in people with Parkinson’s. However, HIIT may provide additional benefits, such as greater improvements in VO2peak and increased muscular endurance. Learn more about exercise as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease in this episode featuring Dr. Giselle Petzinger.
Nightmares and bad dreams are common occurrences, with many adults experiencing them monthly. However, a growing body of evidence points to links between nightmares and cognitive function. A recent study found that people who have frequent nightmares have a fourfold greater risk for cognitive decline and dementia.
The study involved 605 adults enrolled in MIDUS, an ongoing survey of middle-aged and older adults living in the United States. Participants provided information about their sleep quality and distressing dream frequency over about seven years. They also completed cognitive tests and reported whether they had been diagnosed with dementia.
Middle-aged participants who had weekly distressing dreams were four times more likely to experience cognitive decline during the seven years than those without bad dreams. Older adults with weekly bad dreams were more than twice as likely to experience cognitive decline. The connection between bad dreams and cognitive decline was more robust among men.
These findings suggest that distressing dreams predict cognitive decline risk, potentially aiding early diagnosis and treatment. Dreams play essential roles in creativity and inspiration. Learn more in this clip featuring Dr. Matthew Walker.
Carbohydrates are the principal driver of insulin secretion, facilitating the uptake and metabolism of this macronutrient. However, a recent study found that fats and proteins also stimulate insulin secretion, potentially affecting people with type 2 diabetes.
Researchers collected pancreatic islet cells responsible for insulin secretion from 140 donors after their deaths. About half of the donors had type 2 diabetes. They exposed the cells to carbohydrates, fats, and proteins and assessed insulin secretion.
They found that most donors' islet cells exhibited a robust insulin response to carbohydrates, a moderate response to protein, and a low response to fat. However, some donors' cells elicited responses to protein (9%) and fat (8%) greater than their response to carbohydrates. Cells from donors with type 2 diabetes exhibited diminished responses to carbohydrates and fats, but their protein response was preserved.
These findings suggest that insulin responses to macronutrients differ among individuals, with some preferentially responding to proteins and fats over carbohydrates. They also suggest that higher protein diets could benefit people with type 2 diabetes. Some evidence suggests that current guidelines for protein intake are too low, with implications for people more responsive to protein. Learn more about protein requirements in this clip featuring Dr. Stuart Philips.