Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases (Chuquilin-Arista et al., 2019; Hanganu et al., 2014). PD results from the selective but devastating loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (Samii, Nutt & Ranson, 2004). PD is characterized by motor symptoms, including bradykinesia, rigidity, and resting tremor. There are several non-motor symptoms of PD, such as depression, the most frequently reported neuropsychiatric symptom in PD; its prevalence ranges from 2.7% to 90% (Chuquilin-Arista et al., 2019). Even after considering motor dysfunction, depression is the strongest predictor of quality of life in individuals living with PD (Hanganu et al., 2014). Pharmaceutical treatment options for PD, such as dopamine agonists or precursors (e.g., L-dopa), augment dopamine levels in the brain. L-dopa therapy is only efficacious for the motor symptoms of PD for a brief time. It is known to increase levels of depression in PD, particularly if the individual is already depressed (Hanganu et al., 2014). Research suggests that aerobic exercise significantly improves the motor symptoms of PD (Koutsouras et al., 2020). Research into the effect of exercise on symptoms of depression in PD is new compared to motor symptom research; however, there is compelling evidence that aerobic exercise, combined with social interaction, may be an effective intervention for depression in PD (Koutsouras et al., 2020). The current study will examine the effects of a community-based aerobic exercise program that promotes socialization on symptoms of depression in PD. We predict that symptoms of depression will decrease following participation in the program.