Effect of a High-Intensity Tandem Bicycle Exercise Program on Clinical Severity, Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Plasma Biomarkers in Parkinson's Disease.

Rationale: The optimal modality, intensity, duration, frequency, and dose-response of exercise as a therapy for Parkinson's Disease (PD) are insufficiently understood. Objective: To assess the impact of a high-intensity tandem bicycle program on clinical severity, biomarkers, and functional MRI (fMRI) in PD. Methods: A single-center, parallel-group clinical trial was conducted. Thirteen PD patients aged 65 or younger were divided in two groups: a control group and an intervention group that incorporated a cycling program at 80% of each individual's maximum heart rate (HR) (≥80 rpm), three times a week, for 16 weeks. Both groups continued their conventional medications for PD. At baseline and at the end of follow-up, we determined in all participants the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, anthropometry, VO2max, PD biomarkers, and fMRI. Results: VO2max improved in the intervention group (IG) (+5.7 ml/kg/min), while it slightly deteriorated in the control group (CG) (-1.6 ml/kg/min) (p = 0.041). Mean Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) went down by 5.7 points in the IG and showed a small 0.9-point increase in the CG (p = 0.11). fMRI showed activation of the right fusiform gyrus during the motor task and functional connectivity between the cingulum and areas of the frontal cortex, and between the cerebellar vermis and the thalamus and posterior temporal gyrus. Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels increased more than 10-fold in the IG and decreased in the CG (p = 0.028). Larger increases in plasma BDNF correlated with greater decreases in UPDRS (r = -0.58, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that high-intensity tandem bicycle improves motor function and biochemical and functional neuroimaging variables in PD patients. Trial registration number: ISRCTN 13047118, Registered on February 8, 2018.

Nuevos desarrollos en medicina complementaria: El comienzo del fin de un antiguo debate / New developments in complementary medicine: the beginning of the end of an old debate

Este documento expone parte de las bases de una iniciativa corporativa de la Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá que tiene por objeto desarrollar y consolidar nuevas capacidades, dejar atrás viejas confrontaciones y abrir nuevos caminos para el mejoramiento de la salud de individuos y comunidades. En ella, las técnicas de medicina complementaria, el ejercicio físico y los hábitos de vida saludable se sumarán a las actuales competencias y capacidades de la Fundación en un esfuerzo conjunto por promover la salud, prevenir la enfermedad y ofrecer alternativas de tratamiento y rehabilitación de probada efectividad. Con su compromiso con este Programa, la Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá fortalece su aporte a la sociedad, con profesionalismo, innovación, liderazgo y excelencia