The benefits of engaging in regular exercise for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have been widely recognised.1 With respect to non-motor symptoms, previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of physical exercises on cognitive function and depressive and sleep-related symptoms.2–4 However, it is largely unknown whether exercise improves other non-motor symptoms and how such effects differ with exercise intensity and mode.

Growing evidence in populations with cardiometabolic disease supports the superiority of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) over moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) for improving cardiorespiratory fitness.5 Recent studies have shown that HIIT is feasible and safe for patients with PD,6 but its effects on clinical outcomes, particularly non-motor symptoms, remain unclear. Thus, this trial aimed to explore the potential effects of HIIT and MICT programmes on a range of non-motor symptoms in patients with PD.

Details regarding the protocol and methodology of this study are described in online supplemental appendices S1–S3. In this 24-week, randomised, controlled, investigator-blinded pilot trial, participants with PD (Hoehn and Yahr stages 1–2; aged 50–80 years) were allocated to HIIT (3 days/week, 60% maximum aerobic power for 30–50 s with 1 min rest intervals), MICT (3 days/week, 50% peak oxygen consumption [V̇O2 peak]) or control (usual care) groups.

[jnnp-2023-331990supp001.pdf]

The feasibility outcomes included attrition and adherence rates. The primary clinical outcome was a 24-week change in the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) score. The secondary clinical outcomes were 24-week changes in the scores of Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Apathy Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behaviour Disorder Screening Questionnaire, Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease-Autonomic, Parkinson’s Fatigue Scale, King’s Parkinson’s Disease Pain Scale and Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) …