Factors Influencing Habitual Physical Activity in Parkinson's Disease: Considering the Psychosocial State and Wellbeing of People with Parkinson's and Their Carers.

Ríona Mc Ardle,Silvia Del Din,Lisa Alcock,David J Burn,Alison J Yarnall,Rachael A Lawson,Lynn Rochester,Rosie Morris

doi:10.3390/s22030871

Abstract

Participating in habitual physical activity (HPA) may slow onset of dependency and disability for people with Parkinson’s disease (PwP). While cognitive and physical determinants of HPA are well understood, psychosocial influences are not. This pilot study aimed to identify psychosocial factors associated with HPA to guide future intervention development. Sixty-four PwP participated in this study; forty had carer informants. PwP participants wore a tri-axial accelerometer on the lower back continuously for seven days at two timepoints (18 months apart), measuring volume, pattern and variability of HPA. Linear mixed effects analysis identified relationships between demographic, clinical and psychosocial data and HPA from baseline to 18 months. Key results in PwP with carers indicated that carer anxiety and depression were associated with increased HPA volume (p < 0.01), while poorer carer self-care was associated with reduced volume of HPA over 18 months (p < 0.01). Greater carer strain was associated with taking longer walking bouts after 18 months (p < 0.01). Greater carer depression was associated with lower variability of HPA cross-sectionally (p = 0.009). This pilot study provides preliminary novel evidence that psychosocial outcomes from PwP’s carers may impact HPA in Parkinson’s disease. Interventions to improve HPA could target both PwP and carers and consider approaches that also support psychosocial wellbeing.

Highlights

Parkinson’s disease (PD; see Supplementary Table S1 for table of abbreviations) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, accompanied by loss of independence and function over the disease course [1]
habitual physical activity (HPA) was assessed in 64 people with Parkinson’s disease (PwP) assessed at baseline
These findings suggest that supporting PwP’s cognitive, physical, and psychosocial wellbeing and the psychosocial wellbeing of their carers, may help them to maintain their HPA following PD diagnosis

Summary

Introduction

Parkinson’s disease (PD; see Supplementary Table S1 for table of abbreviations) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, accompanied by loss of independence and function over the disease course [1] As this has negative consequences for individual wellbeing [2], strategies to decelerate progression to dependence and disability are important to maintain quality of life (QoL) in people with Parkinson’s disease (PwP). PwP engage in significantly less HPA compared to normal ageing, spending less time walking and taking fewer steps per day [5,6,7], with volume of activity significantly decreasing annually [8]. Interventions to increase or maintain HPA may be an inexpensive and inclusive strategy to slow down loss of independence and functional abilities following PD diagnosis

Methods

Results

Conclusion