Peopleimages / Getty ImagesRegular movement on an exercise bike helps organize brain activityPeopleimages / Getty Images
Cycling could help fight Parkinson’s disease. A study carried out at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) and the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) in partnership with English institutions mapped the brain activity of 24 healthy adults using an exercise bike. The results showed that the sensory stimulation of cycling, especially with the eyes closed, causes greater organization of neuronal activity, something usually reduced by neurodegenerative diseases. “What has been demonstrated in the experiments is that the effects of cycling are similar to medication for patients with Parkinson’s,” explains neuroscientist John Fontenele Araújo, from UFRN. As research advances, it may be possible to combine medication and cycling, with the additional benefit of encouraging a less sedentary lifestyle. According to Araújo, the next stage of the research will involve conducting similar tests on people with Parkinson’s, combined with walking before and after cycling. Another step will be to immerse the bike rider in a virtual reality environment (PLOS ONE, October).
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