New research from the University of Michigan has found that people with Parkinson’s disease may consider trying to wash dishes, fold laundry and take walks around the house to manage their symptoms. The study’s lead researcher “Parkinson’s patients tend to be sedentary due to motor symptoms such as gait, balance problems or falls.” Once a patient’s feet feel unstable, they may be afraid of falling and subsequently of doing any activity. The team observed that subjects’ participation in exercise, such as swimming and aerobics, could help them reduce those motor symptoms that make them prefer to be sedentary. ”We found that not too much exercise, but just the daily activities of life could protect patients’ motor skills. Being sedentary is bad for anyone, but it’s worse for Parkinson’s patients.” The imaging study of Parkinson’s and related disorders that has been published online was conducted by the team, who serve in both imaging and neurology. The researchers looked at the severity of non-exercise and exercise somatic activity and motor symptoms in 48 patients with Parkinson’s disease for a total of 4 weeks. Brain imaging was performed to measure dopamine levels, and a questionnaire was used to understand the patients’ physical activity, both exercise and non-exercise. They found that non-exercise physical activity was associated with less severe motor symptoms. While dopamine deficiency is a major brain change in Parkinson’s disease patients and is thought to be the main reason why Parkinson’s patients become increasingly sedentary, the researchers found that non-exercise physical activity may protect motor skills, including in patients with varying levels of dopamine. ”This could have significant implications for people with Parkinson’s disease,” said co-author and clinical instructor of neurology at the University of Michigan. “Increasingly sedentary behavior could explain not only the worsening of Parkinson’s disease, but also the increasing motor symptoms in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease.” ”I tell my patients to get up, sit less and move more,” noted the University of Michigan professor of radiology and neurology, a physician in the health system and a researcher at the center known for excellence in Parkinson’s disease research.