# High-intensity interval training modulates inflammatory response in Parkinson's disease

PMID: 35699838
Journal: Aging clinical and experimental research
Published: 2022 Sep
Authors: Malczynska-Sims P, Chalimoniuk M, Wronski Z, Marusiak J, Sulek A

## Question

Does 12 weeks of cycling HIIT change inflammatory, neuroinflammatory, immune-cell, and antioxidant markers in people with Parkinson's disease?

## Summary

In people with early-to-intermediate Parkinson's disease, a supervised 12-week cycling HIIT program reduced some inflammatory markers and increased antioxidant capacity compared with a non-training group. The study was small, non-randomized, clinical, and had a published correction notice.

## Population

- People with early-to-intermediate Parkinson's disease
- Sample size: 28
- Age: Training group 64.24 +/- 1.4 years; non-training group 67.0 +/- 2.4 years
- Sex: Training group 9 men/6 women; control 6 men/7 women
- Fitness level: Clinical participants able to perform cycling HIIT
- Health status: Hoehn and Yahr stage 1-2.5, on antiparkinson medication, without serious cardiac, psychiatric, or other neurological disease

## Methodology

- Non-randomized controlled clinical exercise intervention
- 12 weeks of HIIT plus 12-week follow-up
- Supervised clinical/laboratory cycling program
- Controlled study design.

## Protocol

- Supervised PD cycling HIIT.
- Modality: Stationary cycloergometer.
- Work intervals: 2 minutes fast phase at target HR and 80-90 rpm or 30% faster than preferred.
- Recovery: 2 minutes slow phase at 60 rpm or lower.
- Sets or repetitions: 10 four-minute intervals.
- Intensity: 60-80% individualized HRmax, progressed by 5% every two weeks.
- Session duration: 1 hour.
- Frequency: 3 sessions per week.
- Program length: 12 weeks.
- Progression: 60% HRmax weeks 1-2, 65% weeks 3-4, 70% weeks 5-6, 75% weeks 7-9, 80% weeks 10-12.
- Non-training PD control.
- Modality: No HIIT training.
- Program length: 12 weeks plus follow-up assessments.

## Outcomes

### TNF-alpha
Status: improved
TNF-alpha decreased after HIIT and returned toward baseline by follow-up.

Training group 12.96 +/- 0.84 to 10.09 +/- 1.04; p=0.034.

### IL-10
Status: improved
Anti-inflammatory IL-10 increased after HIIT.

p=0.024 in abstract-reported result.

### SOD
Status: improved
Superoxide dismutase increased after training.

p=0.04.

### Other biomarkers
Status: mixed
Several biomarkers did not improve, and S100beta increased after HIIT.

IL-1beta, IL-6, GFAP, GSH, and CAT not significant; S100beta increased about 115% after HIIT.

### Leukocytes
Status: improved
Neutrophils and neutrophil ratios decreased after HIIT.

Neutrophils p=0.03; neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio p=0.048; neutrophil/monocyte ratio p=0.0049.

## Practical Insights

- Clinical HIIT for Parkinson's disease should be supervised, individualized, and heart-rate guided.
- Inflammation evidence is biomarker-specific and should not be generalized to all users.
- Longer and randomized trials are needed before app-facing clinical claims.

## Limitations

- Small sample.
- Non-randomized group assignment.
- Clinical Parkinson's disease population.
- Biomarker surrogate outcomes.
- Short training and follow-up period for clinical neurological outcomes.
- Published correction notice for the article.

## Safety And Adherence

- No adverse events were reported in the extracted text.
- Participants with serious cardiac disease were excluded.
- Training was supervised and performed during medication on-phase.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35699838/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-022-02153-5) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9192928/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.