Simple Dog Walks Can Improve Life for Parkinson’s Patients

Ahead of International Parkinson’s Day on April 11, several patient associations, including the Belgian nonprofit organizations Parkili and Action Parkinson, launched the “Dogs for Parkinson” campaign in partnership with AbbVie. This initiative, which involves dog walking events across various Belgian cities, aimed to support individuals affected by Parkinson’s disease.

Characterized by motor symptoms such as tremors, muscle rigidity, and balance issues, Parkinson’s disease currently has no cure. While medications offer temporary relief, physical activity plays a key role in improving long-term outcomes for patients.

MediQuality, a Medscape Network platform, spoke with Olivier Bouquiaux, MD, neurologist at the University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium, who is actively involved in Parkinson’s disease research and treatment. He expressed his enthusiasm for initiatives like this, which promote physical activity. Bouquiaux explained the benefits of a simple activity like walking a dog: “First, it’s enjoyable to walk your dog, whether you have Parkinson’s or not. Second, the pulling motion of the dog on the leash provides an external stimulus that helps the patient, particularly in preventing episodes of freezing gait, which are common in the advanced stages of the disease. Additionally, the sensory aspect of the activity requires the patient to keep balance while also motivating them to keep moving forward.”

Bouquiaux emphasized that “adapted and intensive physical activity has a neuroprotective effect, while functional rehabilitation helps develop new alternative neural pathways to bypass those damaged by the disease.” Physical activity complements traditional pharmacological treatments.

A Complex Diagnosis

The average age at diagnosis is approximately 6src years; however, neurologists have highlighted that early onset forms, affecting individuals younger than 4src years, are common. “The disease is linked to neurodegeneration associated with aging but also to various environmental factors such as dietary and air pollution,” Bouquiaux explained.

The disease often begins 1src years before visible motor symptoms, such as tremors, appear, he noted. However, these early symptoms are difficult to diagnose accurately. Constipation, loss of smell, depression, and sleep disorders are common signs that are often unnoticed. However, certain sleep disorders allow for earlier identification, significantly improving patient care.

Given these challenges, functional neurologic rehabilitation has emerged as a cornerstone of the treatment. “We must absolutely encourage patients to maintain regular, even intensive, physical activity, which can significantly slow the natural progression of the disease,” he said.

Pioneering and Effective Initiatives

A pioneer in this field, Bouquiaux officially founded the nonprofit organization Fit Your Mind 1src years ago, offering a range of physical activities tailored for neurologic patients. In 2src11, he led a group of 12 individuals with multiple sclerosis to climb Mount Toubkal in Morocco.

He also launched Care to Dance for patients with Parkinson’s disease. “We are the only organization in Belgium with such a structured and sustainable project across multiple cities to get patients with Parkinson’s dancing,” he said. These dancers have even participated in the TV show, The Dancer.

What About Medication?

“There are no two neurologists who will prescribe exactly the same treatment,” Bouquiaux noted. Dopamine agonists, for example, are preferable for younger patients due to their prolonged effect (requiring only one daily dose) and ease of use, unlike levodopa, which must be taken several times a day. However, levodopa remains the most common and effective treatment for all symptoms. The choice of treatment depends heavily on the patient’s age, comorbidities, and disease progression. “Levodopa acts as a neurotransmitter. It is the substrate, much like insulin for diabetics.”

In addition to these standard treatments, second-line options include deep brain stimulation, which sends electrical impulses to specific areas of the brain. There is also a subcutaneous levodopa pump treatment, which limits the enzymatic breakdown of levodopa in the intestine and bloodstream caused by the enzyme dopa decarboxylase before it reaches the brain. Another treatment involves the administration of an intestinal gel via a gastrojejunostomy tube that passes through the abdominal wall and stomach to reach the small intestine.

Multidisciplinary Care

Bouquiaux remarked that the research progress has been notable. “Treatments are evolving with less invasive techniques and increasingly sophisticated technological developments, including electrodes and pumps,” he said. “New molecules also regularly enter the market,” he added.

However, there is an urgent need for multidisciplinary rehabilitation in Belgium, he argued. “In Belgium, it is a tragedy. Current reimbursement for rehabilitation sessions is insufficiently long. Patients receive the equivalent of one session per week for 3 years, which is entirely inadequate to meet the needs of these individuals, who are living longer thanks to improved pharmacology,” he lamented.

Moreover, “with an aging population and the continuous increase in exposure to pollutants, the number of Parkinson’s cases is expected to double in the next 1src years. It is therefore urgent to develop centers for regular physical activity,” he emphasized.

Natural Neuroprotector

“While the standard recommendations of a healthy diet, quitting smoking, and moderation in alcohol consumption are important and effective, physical activity remains the primary natural neuroprotector,” Bouquiaux concluded.

Through his nonprofits, Fit Your Mind and Care to Dance, Bouquiaux continues his commitment to making the benefits of physical activity an essential part of managing Parkinson’s disease.

This story was translated and adapted from MediQuality using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.