Role of exercise in modulating prefrontal cortical activation for improved gait and cognition in Parkinson’s disease patients

Abstract

[Purpose] This narrative review evaluated the impact of exercise on gait and cognitive functions in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), focusing on prefrontal cortical (PFC) activation assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).[Methods] A literature search was conducted in the PubMed and Web of Science databases using keywords such as “Parkinson’s disease,” “gait,” “cognitive functions,” “exercise,” and “NIRS,” focusing on publications from the last decade. Studies measuring PFC activity using NIRS during gait tasks in patients with PD were selected.[Results] The review indicated that patients with PD demonstrate increased PFC activity during gait tasks compared to healthy controls, suggesting a greater cognitive demand for movement control. Exercise has been shown to enhance neural efficiency, thus improving gait and cognitive functions.[Conclusion] Exercise is crucial for improving gait and cognitive functions in patients with PD through increased PFC activation. This emphasizes the importance of incorporating exercise into PD management plans and highlights the need for further studies on its long-term effects and the neurobiological mechanisms underlying its benefits, with the aim of optimizing therapeutic strategies and improving patients’ quality of life.