Parkinson DiseaseHI-LITENCT06088355
Moderate Versus High Volume Light-Moderate Intensity Exercise for People With Moderate Parkinson's Disease
A study testing HV-PDAE: High Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise, MV-PDAE: Moderate Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise and MV-WALK: Moderate Volume Walking in people with Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders, run by VA Office of Research and Development at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Veterans with mid to later stage Parkinson's disease (PD) may not be able to work out as hard as they need to, to prevent brain cell loss. Maybe they could work out longer and more frequently to make up for this during their good times and good weeks and then rest during the bad weeks. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Parkinson Disease, Movement Disorders, Neurodegeneration
- What is being tested?
- HV-PDAE: High Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise, MV-PDAE: Moderate Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise and MV-WALK: Moderate Volume Walking
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 123 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 25 Jan 2025to 2 Jun 2029
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 40 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Participants recruited for this study will be age 40 and older with diagnosis of "definite" PD based upon established criteria (Hughes, Daniel et al. 1992) and determined by a board-certified neurologist with specialty training in movement disorders. Individuals must have presented with asymmetric symptoms that included at least 3 of the cardinal signs of PD (rigidity, bradykinesia, tremor, postural instability), and must show clear symptomatic benefit (e.g., alleviated rigidity, bradykinesia, and tremor) from antiparkinsonian medications, e.g., levodopa (Kempster, Williams et al. 2007). They should be in H\&Y stages 2, 2.5 and 3, and receive a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score >17 (Litvan, Goldman et al. 2012). Age 40 is the upper limit for young onset PD. The investigators will not recruit individuals with a history of significant alcohol or drug use, nor habitual users of antipsychotics. The investigators will observe patients while OFF their antiparkinsonian medications to avoid dyskinesia, and medication fluctuations that may impact neurophysiology and motor examination. The investigators have successfully observed patients while OFF in several previous trials. The following inclusion criteria apply:
- MoCA score >17
- Able to walk with or without an assistive device at least 10 feet
- Best corrected/aided acuity better than 20/70 in the better eye
- Willingness to be randomized to a treatment group
- H\&Y stages 2, 2.5 and 3
- Show clear symptomatic benefit (e.g., alleviated rigidity, bradykinesia, and tremor) from antiparkinsonian medications
- Fluent in English to be able to comprehend and participate; older than 40 years; Diagnosis of definite Parkinson's disease by board certified Movement Disorders Neurologist, using standardized UK Brain Bank criteria
Who cannot join
- Participants recruited for this study will be age 40 and older with diagnosis of "definite" PD based upon established criteria (Hughes, Daniel et al. 1992) and determined by a board-certified neurologist with specialty training in movement disorders. Individuals must have presented with asymmetric symptoms that included at least 3 of the cardinal signs of PD (rigidity, bradykinesia, tremor, postural instability), and must show clear symptomatic benefit (e.g., alleviated rigidity, bradykinesia, and tremor) from antiparkinsonian medications, e.g., levodopa (Kempster, Williams et al. 2007). They should be in H\&Y stages 2, 2.5 and 3, and receive a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score >17 (Litvan, Goldman et al. 2012). Age 40 is the upper limit for young onset PD. The investigators will not recruit individuals with a history of significant alcohol or drug use, nor habitual users of antipsychotics. The following exclusion criteria apply:
- Untreated Major Depression and major psychiatric illness
- History of stroke, or traumatic brain injury
- Pure-tone threshold average sensitivity at 0.5, 1.0,and 2.0 kHz exceeds 40 dB
- Alcohol abuse and/or use of antipsychotics
- Planning to leave the area for >1 month during the study time period.
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- Taking moderate to high doses of beta-blockers with a resting heart rate below 60 beats/min given that exercise intensity is measured through target heart rate.
- Severe cardiac disease, including NYHA Class III or IV congestive heart failure, clinically significant aortic stenosis, history of cardiac arrest, use of a cardiac defibrillator, or uncontrolled angina
- Other significant co-morbid disease that would impair ability to participate in the exercise-based intervention, e.g. renal failure on hemodialysis, excessive alcohol use (>14 drinks per wk)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA
Decatur, Georgia, 30033-4004
Lisa Calas, (404) 321-6111 ext. 206795, lisa.calas@va.gov
Erica W Watkins, BA, (404) 321-6111 ext. 5830, erica.watkins@va.gov
About this study
Veterans with mid to later stage Parkinson's disease (PD) may not be able to work out as hard as they need to, to prevent brain cell loss. Maybe they could work out longer and more frequently to make up for this during their good times and good weeks and then rest during the bad weeks. The investigators will compare how effective working out a lot one week per month with a break of three weeks is to continuously exercising weekly with no breaks in people with mid stage PD. The investigators will look at how fast participants walk per minute, whether they become more physically active, the biochemicals in their blood, and at how stiff their blood vessels are before and after the exercise.
Read the detailed description
For the first time, this project will define the impact of high volume (HV) exercise compared to moderate volume (MV) exercise for Veterans with moderate PD (Stages 2-3). Volume of aerobic exercise (AE) has not been previously well studied in PD, in moderate PD, nor in Veterans. Exercise is now prescribed as a first line therapy in PD. Exact combinations of frequency, duration (the product of which is volume) and intensity of AE need to be determined for optimal delivery of exercise for PD. In contrast to studies of high intensity exercise, which is being investigated in a major stage 3 clinical trial, SPARX3, few studies have examined the impact of volume, in particular HV in PD. As such, AE volume is primed for evaluation, for its effects on gait measures, and overall physical activity (PA). Like (SPARX3), evaluation of volume must include clinically-relevant behavioral measures, e.g., gait parameters, and disease severity; biomarkers of neurodegeneration, representing inflammatory, and neurotrophic mechanisms. Given the strong impact of PD on autonomic and sympathetic processes in PD (Sabino-Carvalho et al., 2020) cardiovascular and vascular processes should also be evaluated- particularly in moderate PD who have OFF-time and greater motor dysfunction. The investigators' published work shows HV light-moderate intensity Partnered dance AE (PDAE) (5 days/week, for 2-3 weeks) - improved gait, motor function and neuromuscular control in people with moderate PD. These functional changes were comparable to changes seen in programs of longer duration and lower weekly volume. PDAE has been tailored for Veterans with PD since 2011 and is adaptable for MV or HV. This project explores effects of exercise dosing that make good use of patients' high functioning times and will lead to enhance gait parameters and more PA. The primary outcome measure is preferred gait cadence, a clinically relevant variable for gait training studies, and which the data show is strongly associated with PA. At the Atlanta VA, for 13 years, Dr. Hackney (PI) and her team have developed a research infrastructure to investigate rehab treatments for Veterans with PD -most of whom have moderate stage PD. The expertise, resources and infrastructure the team has accumulated are crucial for the proposed work. This RCT assigns n=102 (34 per group) older Veterans with PD to 52 weeks of PDAE at HV or moderate volume (MV) or to a MV control (MVWALK). Overall exercise dose will be 112.5 hours over 52 weeks. MV-PDAE and MV-WALK classes will meet twice-weekly for 65-minutes. HV PDAE classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minutes for three weeks at trial onset followed by one HV week every 4 weeks for a year. Gait cadence will be measured with inertial sensors. PA will be measured with accelerometry and a questionnaire. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline (before intervention), and at 52 weeks (intervention end). The investigators assume 20% attrition and will recruit 21 additional participants, totaling 123 Veteran participants (41 per group). Aim 1 will compare the impact of AE volume on gait cadence and PA. Aim 2 will compare the impact of AE volume on blood biomarkers: IL-7, BDNF and CRP. Aim 3 will compare the impact of exercise volume on vascular function and aerobic capacity
- Conditions
- Parkinson Disease, Movement Disorders, Neurodegeneration
- Being tested
- HV-PDAE: High Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise, MV-PDAE: Moderate Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise, MV-WALK: Moderate Volume Walking, HV-WALK: High Volume Walking
- Keywords
- dance, walk, Neurodegenerative, aging, exercise, high volume, frequency, intensity, duration, biomarkers, Parkinson's disease
- Medical subject headings
- Parkinson Disease, Movement Disorders, Nerve Degeneration, Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
HV-PDAE: High Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic ExerciseBehavioural
HV-PDAE classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minute sessions for 3 weeks at onset of trial and then every 4 weeks for a year. All participants will receive 105h of training. PDAE was adapted for older adults with balance impairments; modifications were made to the frame and steps of Argentine tango. People with PD partner an individual without PD, e.g., staff, caregiver, friend, or university student. The instructor, staff lead and assistants monitor participants for safety. Class sizes will consist of 6 or fewer pairs of participants with PD and partners. Participants with PD will dance with new partners (individuals without PD) every 15-20 minutes. Participants will learn new steps in each class. The class format includes practicing steps, warm-up, partnering and rhythmic exercises, learning new steps, combining old and new steps, cool down. PDAE classes follow a syllabus with new steps, rhythms and embellishments included in each class.
MV-PDAE: Moderate Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic ExerciseBehavioural
MV-PDAE: MV classes will meet biweekly for 52 weeks for 65-minute sessions. All participants will receive 105h of training. PDAE was adapted for older adults with balance impairments; modifications were made to the frame and steps of Argentine tango. People with PD partner an individual without PD, e.g., staff, caregiver, friend, or university student. The instructor, staff lead and assistants monitor participants for safety. Class sizes will consist of 6 or fewer pairs of participants with PD and partners. Participants with PD will dance with new partners (individuals without PD) every 15-20 minutes. Participants will learn new steps in each class. The class format includes practicing steps, warm-up, partnering and rhythmic exercises, learning new steps, combining old and new steps, cool down. PDAE classes follow a syllabus with new steps, rhythms and embellishments included in each class.
MV-WALK: Moderate Volume WalkingBehavioural
MV-WALK (65-minute sessions): WALK will control for the walking that participants in PDAE do and will also take place in groups to control social effects of intervention. Walking for exercise expends 3 METS, like PDAE. (Knaggs et al., 2011) 65 minute sessions will consist of 15 minutes of warmup exercises, 45 minutes of walking with breaks ad libitum, and a 5-minute cool down. All participants will receive 105 h of training. Setting will be a designated, safe, non-cluttered area for walking- indoors or outdoors. This protocol is in line with recommendations for gait training to improve gait parameters, i.e., 2-3 days per week, for 30-60 minutes and with evidence that light-moderate intensity walking programs can lead to gains in gait parameters.
HV-WALK: High Volume WalkingBehavioural
HV-WALK classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minute sessions for 3 weeks at onset of trial and then every 4 weeks for a year. All participants will receive 6300 minutes (105 h) of training. WALK will control for the walking that participants in PDAE do and will also take place in groups to control social effects of intervention. Walking for exercise expends 3 METS, like PDAE. (Knaggs et al., 2011) 90 minute sessions will consist of 25 minutes of warmup exercises, 45 minutes of walking with breaks ad libitum, and a 5-minute cool down. Setting will be a designated, safe, non-cluttered area for walking- indoors or outdoors. This protocol is in line with recommendations for gait training evidence that light-moderate intensity walking programs can lead to gains in gait parameters.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| HV-PDAE: High Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise | Experimental | HV-PDAE classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minute sessions for 3 weeks at onset of trial and then every 4 weeks for a year. All participants will receive 6300 nin (105 h) of training. PDAE was adapted for older adults with balance impairments; modifications were made to the frame and steps of Argentine tango. People with PD partner an individual without PD, e.g., staff, caregiver, friend, or university student. The instructor, staff lead and assistants monitor participants for safety. Class sizes will consist of 6 or fewer pairs of participants with PD and partners. Participants with PD will dance with new partners (individuals without PD) every 15-20 minutes. Participants will learn new steps in each class. The class format includes practicing steps, warm-up, partnering and rhythmic exercises, learning new steps, combining old and new steps, cool down. PDAE classes follow a syllabus with new steps, rhythms and embellishments included in each class. Receives: Behavioral: HV-PDAE: High Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise |
| MV-PDAE: Moderate Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise | Active comparator | MV-PDAE: MV classes will meet biweekly for 52 weeks for 65-minute sessions. All participants will receive 105h of training. PDAE was adapted for older adults with balance impairments; modifications were made to the frame and steps of Argentine tango. People with PD partner an individual without PD, e.g., staff, caregiver, friend, or university student. The instructor, staff lead and assistants monitor participants for safety. Class sizes will consist of 6 or fewer pairs of participants with PD and partners. Participants with PD will dance with new partners (individuals without PD) every 15-20 minutes. Participants will learn new steps in each class. The class format includes practicing steps, warm-up, partnering and rhythmic exercises, learning new steps, combining old and new steps, cool down. PDAE classes follow a syllabus with new steps, rhythms and embellishments included in each class. Receives: Behavioral: MV-PDAE: Moderate Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise |
| MV-WALK: Moderate Volume Walking | Active comparator | MV-WALK (65-minute sessions): WALK will control for the walking that participants in PDAE do and will also take place in groups to control social effects of intervention. Walking for exercise expends 3 METS, like PDAE. (Knaggs et al., 2011) 65 minute sessions will consist of 15 minutes of warmup exercises, 45 minutes of walking with breaks ad libitum, and a 5-minute cool down. All participants will receive 105 h of training. Setting will be a designated, safe, non-cluttered area for walking- indoors or outdoors. This protocol is in line with recommendations for gait training to improve gait parameters, i.e., 2-3 days per week, for 30-60 minutes and with evidence that light-moderate intensity walking programs can lead to gains in gait parameters. Receives: Behavioral: MV-WALK: Moderate Volume Walking |
| HV-WALK: High volume walking | Active comparator | HV-WALK classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minute sessions for 3 weeks at onset of trial and then every 4 weeks for a year. All participants will receive 6300 minutes (105 h) of training. WALK will control for the walking that participants in PDAE do and will also take place in groups to control social effects of intervention. Walking for exercise expends 3 METS, like PDAE. (Knaggs et al., 2011) 90 minute sessions will consist of 25 minutes of warmup exercises, 45 minutes of walking with breaks ad libitum, and a 5-minute cool down. Setting will be a designated, safe, non-cluttered area for walking- indoors or outdoors. This protocol is in line with recommendations for gait training evidence that light-moderate intensity walking programs can lead to gains in gait parameters. Receives: Behavioral: HV-WALK: High Volume Walking |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Gait cadence
Gait Cadence is the number of human steps taken per minute while walking.
Measured: 52 weeks
Physical activity scale for the elderly (PASE)
This questionnaire is very comprehensive and assesses an older adults' activity level within the previous week by totaling their involvement in a variety of physical activities. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 400. Higher scores indicate better outcomes.
Measured: 52 weeks
vascular function: Pulse wave velocity and Aortic index
Pulse wave velocity and augmentation aortic index are valid and reliable measures of vascular function. Pulse-wave velocity (PWV) is a measurement of arterial stiffness and is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. It can be assessed simply and noninvasively by measuring the carotid and femoral pulse pressures and the time delay between the two or by other methods relying on pulse-wave analysis.
Measured: 52 weeks
Secondary outcomes (5)
inflammatory cytokine expression: Brain derived neurotrophic factor and c-reactive protein
BDNF: This neurotrophic factor plays an important role in neuronal survival and growth, serves as a neurotransmitter modulator, and participates in neuronal plasticity, which is essential for learning and memory. Other studies have shown it increased in expression after structured long term exercise in populations with neurodegenerative disease.
CRP: C reactive protein is a protein made by the liver. The level of CRP increases with inflammation in the body. Some studies have shown decreased levels of CRP in patients who underwent exercise.
Measured: 52 weeks
VO2 max- maximum oxygen consumption
Vo2 max is the maximal amount of oxygen that someone can use during intense or maximal exercise. It is a good indicator of cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance.
Measured: 52 weeks
inflammatory cytokine expression: and c reactive protein
These are both blood biomarkers derived from serum. Inflammatory cytokine expression: An inflammatory cytokine is a type of cytokine (a signaling molecule) that is secreted from immune cells and certain other cell types that promotes inflammation. Inflammatory cytokines are predominantly produced by T helper cells (Th) and macrophages and involved in the upregulation of inflammatory reactions.
CRP: C reactive protein is a protein made by the liver. The level of CRP increases with inflammation in the body. Some studies have shown decreased levels of CRP in patients who underwent exercise.
Measured: 52 weeks
Six minute walk test
The 6 Minute Walk Test is a sub-maximal exercise test used to assess aerobic capacity and endurance. The distance covered over a time of 6 minutes is used as the outcome by which to compare changes in performance capacity.
Measured: 52 weeks
gait speed (m/s)
Preferred and fast as possible gait speed will be measured with motion capture (APDM opals) over a 20 foot path. The speed is reported in meters per second.
Measured: 52 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Oct 2023
- Study start25 Jan 2025
- Primary completion29 Jan 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion2 Jun 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Parkinson DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by VA Office of Research and DevelopmentThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This RCT assigns n=102 (34 per group) older Veterans with PD to 52 weeks of PDAE at HV or moderate volume (MV) or to MV control (MV-WALK). Overall exercise dose will be 112.5 hours over 52 weeks. MV-PDAE and MV-WALK classes will meet twice-weekly for 65-minutes. HV PDAE classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minutes for three weeks at trial onset followed by one HV week every 4 weeks for a year.
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 123 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- VA Office of Research and Development
- Sponsor type
- US federal agency
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Madeleine E. Hackney, PhD, Principal investigator, Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06088355
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- E4817-R
- Acronym
- HI-LITE
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Oct 2023
- Last updated
- 29 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Moderate Versus High Volume Light-Moderate Intensity Exercise for People With Moderate Parkinson's Disease
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06088355
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HI-LITE / E4817-R
- Conditions
- Parkinson Disease, Movement Disorders, Neurodegeneration
- Keywords
- dance, walk, Neurodegenerative, aging, exercise, high volume, frequency, intensity
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 123 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- VA Office of Research and DevelopmentUS federal agency
- Study start
- 25 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 29 Jan 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 2 Jun 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 18 Oct 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Veterans with mid to later stage Parkinson's disease (PD) may not be able to work out as hard as they need to, to prevent brain cell loss. Maybe they could work out longer and more frequently to make up for this during their good times and good weeks and then rest during the bad weeks. The investigators will compare how effective working out a lot one week per month with a break of three weeks is to continuously exercising weekly with no breaks in people with mid stage PD. The investigators will look at how fast participants walk per minute, whether they become more physically active, the biochemicals in their blood, and at how stiff their blood vessels are before and after the exercise.
Detailed description
For the first time, this project will define the impact of high volume (HV) exercise compared to moderate volume (MV) exercise for Veterans with moderate PD (Stages 2-3). Volume of aerobic exercise (AE) has not been previously well studied in PD, in moderate PD, nor in Veterans. Exercise is now prescribed as a first line therapy in PD. Exact combinations of frequency, duration (the product of which is volume) and intensity of AE need to be determined for optimal delivery of exercise for PD. In contrast to studies of high intensity exercise, which is being investigated in a major stage 3 clinical trial, SPARX3, few studies have examined the impact of volume, in particular HV in PD. As such, AE volume is primed for evaluation, for its effects on gait measures, and overall physical activity (PA). Like (SPARX3), evaluation of volume must include clinically-relevant behavioral measures, e.g., gait parameters, and disease severity; biomarkers of neurodegeneration, representing inflammatory, and neurotrophic mechanisms. Given the strong impact of PD on autonomic and sympathetic processes in PD (Sabino-Carvalho et al., 2020) cardiovascular and vascular processes should also be evaluated- particularly in moderate PD who have OFF-time and greater motor dysfunction. The investigators' published work shows HV light-moderate intensity Partnered dance AE (PDAE) (5 days/week, for 2-3 weeks) - improved gait, motor function and neuromuscular control in people with moderate PD. These functional changes were comparable to changes seen in programs of longer duration and lower weekly volume. PDAE has been tailored for Veterans with PD since 2011 and is adaptable for MV or HV. This project explores effects of exercise dosing that make good use of patients' high functioning times and will lead to enhance gait parameters and more PA. The primary outcome measure is preferred gait cadence, a clinically relevant variable for gait training studies, and which the data show is strongly associated with PA. At the Atlanta VA, for 13 years, Dr. Hackney (PI) and her team have developed a research infrastructure to investigate rehab treatments for Veterans with PD -most of whom have moderate stage PD. The expertise, resources and infrastructure the team has accumulated are crucial for the proposed work. This RCT assigns n=102 (34 per group) older Veterans with PD to 52 weeks of PDAE at HV or moderate volume (MV) or to a MV control (MVWALK). Overall exercise dose will be 112.5 hours over 52 weeks. MV-PDAE and MV-WALK classes will meet twice-weekly for 65-minutes. HV PDAE classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minutes for three weeks at trial onset followed by one HV week every 4 weeks for a year. Gait cadence will be measured with inertial sensors. PA will be measured with accelerometry and a questionnaire. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline (before intervention), and at 52 weeks (intervention end). The investigators assume 20% attrition and will recruit 21 additional participants, totaling 123 Veteran participants (41 per group). Aim 1 will compare the impact of AE volume on gait cadence and PA. Aim 2 will compare the impact of AE volume on blood biomarkers: IL-7, BDNF and CRP. Aim 3 will compare the impact of exercise volume on vascular function and aerobic capacity
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, care provider, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 4
- Model description
- This RCT assigns n=102 (34 per group) older Veterans with PD to 52 weeks of PDAE at HV or moderate volume (MV) or to MV control (MV-WALK). Overall exercise dose will be 112.5 hours over 52 weeks. MV-PDAE and MV-WALK classes will meet twice-weekly for 65-minutes. HV PDAE classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minutes for three weeks at trial onset followed by one HV week every 4 weeks for a year.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| HV-PDAE: High Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise | Experimental | Behavioral: HV-PDAE: High Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic ExerciseHV-PDAE classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minute sessions for 3 weeks at onset of trial and then every 4 weeks for a year. All participants will receive 6300 nin (105 h) of training. PDAE was adapted for older adults with balance impairments; modifications were made to the frame and steps of Argentine tango. People with PD partner an individual without PD, e.g., staff, caregiver, friend, or university student. The instructor, staff lead and assistants monitor participants for safety. Class sizes will consist of 6 or fewer pairs of participants with PD and partners. Participants with PD will dance with new partners (individuals without PD) every 15-20 minutes. Participants will learn new steps in each class. The class format includes practicing steps, warm-up, partnering and rhythmic exercises, learning new steps, combining old and new steps, cool down. PDAE classes follow a syllabus with new steps, rhythms and embellishments included in each class. |
| MV-PDAE: Moderate Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise | Active comparator | Behavioral: MV-PDAE: Moderate Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic ExerciseMV-PDAE: MV classes will meet biweekly for 52 weeks for 65-minute sessions. All participants will receive 105h of training. PDAE was adapted for older adults with balance impairments; modifications were made to the frame and steps of Argentine tango. People with PD partner an individual without PD, e.g., staff, caregiver, friend, or university student. The instructor, staff lead and assistants monitor participants for safety. Class sizes will consist of 6 or fewer pairs of participants with PD and partners. Participants with PD will dance with new partners (individuals without PD) every 15-20 minutes. Participants will learn new steps in each class. The class format includes practicing steps, warm-up, partnering and rhythmic exercises, learning new steps, combining old and new steps, cool down. PDAE classes follow a syllabus with new steps, rhythms and embellishments included in each class. |
| MV-WALK: Moderate Volume Walking | Active comparator | Behavioral: MV-WALK: Moderate Volume WalkingMV-WALK (65-minute sessions): WALK will control for the walking that participants in PDAE do and will also take place in groups to control social effects of intervention. Walking for exercise expends 3 METS, like PDAE. (Knaggs et al., 2011) 65 minute sessions will consist of 15 minutes of warmup exercises, 45 minutes of walking with breaks ad libitum, and a 5-minute cool down. All participants will receive 105 h of training. Setting will be a designated, safe, non-cluttered area for walking- indoors or outdoors. This protocol is in line with recommendations for gait training to improve gait parameters, i.e., 2-3 days per week, for 30-60 minutes and with evidence that light-moderate intensity walking programs can lead to gains in gait parameters. |
| HV-WALK: High volume walking | Active comparator | Behavioral: HV-WALK: High Volume WalkingHV-WALK classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minute sessions for 3 weeks at onset of trial and then every 4 weeks for a year. All participants will receive 6300 minutes (105 h) of training. WALK will control for the walking that participants in PDAE do and will also take place in groups to control social effects of intervention. Walking for exercise expends 3 METS, like PDAE. (Knaggs et al., 2011) 90 minute sessions will consist of 25 minutes of warmup exercises, 45 minutes of walking with breaks ad libitum, and a 5-minute cool down. Setting will be a designated, safe, non-cluttered area for walking- indoors or outdoors. This protocol is in line with recommendations for gait training evidence that light-moderate intensity walking programs can lead to gains in gait parameters. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Participants recruited for this study will be age 40 and older with diagnosis of "definite" PD based upon established criteria (Hughes, Daniel et al. 1992) and determined by a board-certified neurologist with specialty training in movement disorders. Individuals must have presented with asymmetric symptoms that included at least 3 of the cardinal signs of PD (rigidity, bradykinesia, tremor, postural instability), and must show clear symptomatic benefit (e.g., alleviated rigidity, bradykinesia, and tremor) from antiparkinsonian medications, e.g., levodopa (Kempster, Williams et al. 2007). They should be in H\&Y stages 2, 2.5 and 3, and receive a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score >17 (Litvan, Goldman et al. 2012). Age 40 is the upper limit for young onset PD. The investigators will not recruit individuals with a history of significant alcohol or drug use, nor habitual users of antipsychotics. The investigators will observe patients while OFF their antiparkinsonian medications to avoid dyskinesia, and medication fluctuations that may impact neurophysiology and motor examination. The investigators have successfully observed patients while OFF in several previous trials. The following inclusion criteria apply:
- MoCA score >17
- Able to walk with or without an assistive device at least 10 feet
- Best corrected/aided acuity better than 20/70 in the better eye
- Willingness to be randomized to a treatment group
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Participants recruited for this study will be age 40 and older with diagnosis of "definite" PD based upon established criteria (Hughes, Daniel et al. 1992) and determined by a board-certified neurologist with specialty training in movement disorders. Individuals must have presented with asymmetric symptoms that included at least 3 of the cardinal signs of PD (rigidity, bradykinesia, tremor, postural instability), and must show clear symptomatic benefit (e.g., alleviated rigidity, bradykinesia, and tremor) from antiparkinsonian medications, e.g., levodopa (Kempster, Williams et al. 2007). They should be in H\&Y stages 2, 2.5 and 3, and receive a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score >17 (Litvan, Goldman et al. 2012). Age 40 is the upper limit for young onset PD. The investigators will not recruit individuals with a history of significant alcohol or drug use, nor habitual users of antipsychotics. The following exclusion criteria apply:
- Untreated Major Depression and major psychiatric illness
- History of stroke, or traumatic brain injury
- Pure-tone threshold average sensitivity at 0.5, 1.0,and 2.0 kHz exceeds 40 dB
- Alcohol abuse and/or use of antipsychotics
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| HV-PDAE: High Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic ExerciseHV-PDAE classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minute sessions for 3 weeks at onset of trial and then every 4 weeks for a year. All participants will receive 105h of training. PDAE was adapted for older adults with balance impairments; modifications were made to the frame and steps of Argentine tango. People with PD partner an individual without PD, e.g., staff, caregiver, friend, or university student. The instructor, staff lead and assistants monitor participants for safety. Class sizes will consist of 6 or fewer pairs of participants with PD and partners. Participants with PD will dance with new partners (individuals without PD) every 15-20 minutes. Participants will learn new steps in each class. The class format includes practicing steps, warm-up, partnering and rhythmic exercises, learning new steps, combining old and new steps, cool down. PDAE classes follow a syllabus with new steps, rhythms and embellishments included in each class. | Behavioural | HV-PDAE: High Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise |
| MV-PDAE: Moderate Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic ExerciseMV-PDAE: MV classes will meet biweekly for 52 weeks for 65-minute sessions. All participants will receive 105h of training. PDAE was adapted for older adults with balance impairments; modifications were made to the frame and steps of Argentine tango. People with PD partner an individual without PD, e.g., staff, caregiver, friend, or university student. The instructor, staff lead and assistants monitor participants for safety. Class sizes will consist of 6 or fewer pairs of participants with PD and partners. Participants with PD will dance with new partners (individuals without PD) every 15-20 minutes. Participants will learn new steps in each class. The class format includes practicing steps, warm-up, partnering and rhythmic exercises, learning new steps, combining old and new steps, cool down. PDAE classes follow a syllabus with new steps, rhythms and embellishments included in each class. | Behavioural | MV-PDAE: Moderate Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise |
| MV-WALK: Moderate Volume WalkingMV-WALK (65-minute sessions): WALK will control for the walking that participants in PDAE do and will also take place in groups to control social effects of intervention. Walking for exercise expends 3 METS, like PDAE. (Knaggs et al., 2011) 65 minute sessions will consist of 15 minutes of warmup exercises, 45 minutes of walking with breaks ad libitum, and a 5-minute cool down. All participants will receive 105 h of training. Setting will be a designated, safe, non-cluttered area for walking- indoors or outdoors. This protocol is in line with recommendations for gait training to improve gait parameters, i.e., 2-3 days per week, for 30-60 minutes and with evidence that light-moderate intensity walking programs can lead to gains in gait parameters. | Behavioural | MV-WALK: Moderate Volume Walking |
| HV-WALK: High Volume WalkingHV-WALK classes will meet 5 times a week for 90 minute sessions for 3 weeks at onset of trial and then every 4 weeks for a year. All participants will receive 6300 minutes (105 h) of training. WALK will control for the walking that participants in PDAE do and will also take place in groups to control social effects of intervention. Walking for exercise expends 3 METS, like PDAE. (Knaggs et al., 2011) 90 minute sessions will consist of 25 minutes of warmup exercises, 45 minutes of walking with breaks ad libitum, and a 5-minute cool down. Setting will be a designated, safe, non-cluttered area for walking- indoors or outdoors. This protocol is in line with recommendations for gait training evidence that light-moderate intensity walking programs can lead to gains in gait parameters. | Behavioural | HV-WALK: High volume walking |
Primary outcome
Gait cadence
Time frame: 52 weeks
Gait Cadence is the number of human steps taken per minute while walking.
Physical activity scale for the elderly (PASE)
Time frame: 52 weeks
This questionnaire is very comprehensive and assesses an older adults' activity level within the previous week by totaling their involvement in a variety of physical activities. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 400. Higher scores indicate better outcomes.
vascular function: Pulse wave velocity and Aortic index
Time frame: 52 weeks
Pulse wave velocity and augmentation aortic index are valid and reliable measures of vascular function. Pulse-wave velocity (PWV) is a measurement of arterial stiffness and is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. It can be assessed simply and noninvasively by measuring the carotid and femoral pulse pressures and the time delay between the two or by other methods relying on pulse-wave analysis.
5 secondary outcomes
inflammatory cytokine expression: Brain derived neurotrophic factor and c-reactive protein
Time frame: 52 weeks
VO2 max- maximum oxygen consumption
Time frame: 52 weeks
inflammatory cytokine expression: and c reactive protein
Time frame: 52 weeks
Six minute walk test
Time frame: 52 weeks
gait speed (m/s)
Time frame: 52 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Madeleine E. Hackney, PhD principal investigator
Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing HV-PDAE: High Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise, MV-PDAE: Moderate Volume Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise and MV-WALK: Moderate Volume Walking in people with Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders, run by VA Office of Research and Development at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Madeleine E Hackney, PhD ((404) 321-6111 ext. 5006, mehackn@emory.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Gait cadence (time frame: 52 weeks). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Jul 2026.