Childhood Pastime “Rewires” the Parkinson’s Brain?

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted August 25, 2025

If you or someone you love is living with Parkinson’s disease, you know how relentless it can be.

The stiffness. The tremors.

The way even small, everyday tasks—buttoning a shirt, pouring a cup of coffee—can feel like a battle.

It’s more than just the physical symptoms, too. Parkinson’s changes the way the brain communicates with the body, often making movement harder, slower, and less predictable.

Over time, it can chip away at independence, confidence, and quality of life.

And while treatments can help manage symptoms, finding new ways to actually rebuild what’s been lost has always felt out of reach.

Parkinson’s disease disrupts the central nervous system, interfering with both movement and brain signaling. Over time, it can make everyday activities—like walking, speaking, or writing — more challenging.

But now, there’s encouraging new evidence that a surprisingly simple activity could help restore some of those damaged brain connections—not just slow their decline.

Researchers recently found that as few as 12 sessions of a specific form of exercise over four weeks helped repair neural pathways in people with Parkinson’s disease.

And the best part? This activity is something many of us learned to do in childhood: riding a bike.

The research, published in Clinical Neurophysiology, followed nine Parkinson’s patients who already had deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices. Over four weeks, they completed 12 sessions of “adaptive cycling”—where the bike adjusted resistance based on each rider’s effort.

By the end of the study, participants showed measurable changes in brain signals tied to motor control and movement. The findings suggest that exercise can trigger neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new connections—even in areas damaged by Parkinson’s.

As lead researcher Dr. Aasef Shaikh explained, “This finding provided proof of principle that exercise changes the brain… but only when it’s done persistently and consistently.”

Exercise has long been recognized as one of the best non-drug therapies for Parkinson’s—but this study adds powerful evidence that it doesn’t just help the body…it can help retrain the brain.

And while cycling was the focus here, researchers believe other activities may offer similar benefits. The key is choosing something that challenges both your body and your brain—and sticking with it.

If you or a loved one has Parkinson’s:

• Stay active daily—Walking, swimming, or tai chi can all help with balance and coordination.
• Engage the brain—Dancing, boxing, or learning new movements may help stimulate neuroplasticity.
• Be consistent—The benefits build over time, so set a regular schedule.
• Work with your doctor—Especially if you have balance issues, get guidance on safe exercise options.

Parkinson’s may change how the brain works—but research shows we’re not powerless. With consistent, targeted movement like cycling, we might be able to help the brain reconnect in ways once thought impossible.

P.S. Ancient hack helps Parkinson’s patients sleep better.

Source:

Prajakta Joshi, et al., Electrophysiological correlates of dynamic cycling in Parkinson’s disease, Clinical Neurophysiology, Volume 174, 2025, Pages 17-27, ISSN 1388-2457, DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2025.03.018

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

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