High-intensity exercise as a treatment for Parkinson's disease
Official title: Study in Parkinson Disease of Exercise Phase 3 Clinical Trial: SPARX3
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-11290686 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether doing high-intensity endurance exercise can help people who have just been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease feel better and slow down their symptoms, especially since current medications don't always do the trick.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $934,400 |
| NIH project number | 3U01NS113851-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11290686 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and have not yet started dopaminergic medication.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced Parkinson's disease or those already on dopaminergic medications may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of high-intensity endurance exercise as a primary treatment for individuals recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The study aims to determine if this type of exercise can slow the progression of both motor and non-motor symptoms of the disease, which current medications do not adequately address. Participants will engage in structured exercise sessions at high intensity, monitored for adherence and safety, to evaluate the potential benefits on their overall health and disease symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a non-pharmacological treatment option that significantly slows the progression of Parkinson's disease symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results for endurance exercise in improving symptoms of Parkinson's disease, suggesting that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Corcos, Daniel M. — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Corcos, Daniel M.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.