Parkinson’s disease: high‑intensity treadmill exercise as first‑line therapy
Official title: Study in Parkinson Disease of Exercise Phase 3 Clinical Trial: SPARX3
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11508928 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests whether training Parkinson’s patients to exercise at high intensity can slow disease progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,136,413 |
| NIH project number | 2U01NS113851-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11508928 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease who can safely participate in moderate to high‑intensity aerobic exercise.
✕Less likely to help
Some individuals with advanced PD or certain medical conditions may not be eligible or may not benefit from this exercise protocol.
What this research studies
If you have Parkinson’s, this study checks whether exercising at a harder, heart‑pumping pace, four times a week for 30 minutes, can slow how the disease progresses beyond what standard treadmill work already does. Participants are assigned to either a moderate or high‑intensity treadmill program over up to two years, with careful monitoring of safety and changes in movement, skills, and measurable markers of the brain. The goal is to see if higher‑intensity exercise offers extra benefits for slowing PD compared with existing exercise approaches. If successful, this could lead to a non‑drug option to help preserve function in PD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, high‑intensity exercise could become a recommended, non‑drug option to slow PD progression and improve daily function.
How similar studies have gone: A prior Phase 2 trial showed promising signals and has been widely cited; this Phase 3 study tests durable, real‑world benefits.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Corcos, Daniel M. — Northwestern University
- 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.