By Tim Hague Sr. & Dauda Sulaiman Dauda | August 2025
Living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) can mean facing daily challenges related to movement, balance, and often mental sharpness. But exciting new research from scientists led by Dr. Tony Szturm at the University of Manitoba’s College of Rehabilitation Sciences in Winnipeg suggests there’s a powerful way to train both your brain and body at the same time. It’s called dual-task (DT) treadmill training, and combines walking on a treadmill while playing engaging computer games that challenge your memory, attention, and coordination.
Why Does DT Training Matter for PD?
Everyday activities like walking while talking, navigating crowds, or searching for items in your environment often require doing two things at once. In PD, mobility and cognitive problems can make these “dual-tasks” particularly difficult, increasing the risk of falls and limiting independence.
Dr Szturm and his team are finding that walking while doing a mental task, like playing a game, can mimic real-world situations (like walking while talking or navigating a crowded street) and that DT training better reflects the kinds of challenges people with PD face in real life. Such training aims to improve not only gait and balance but also thinking skills and overall safety. Participants are tasked with playing brain-challenging video games using a headband to move a cursor on the screen in front of them with their head. The games include visual tracking, memory matching, and fast reaction activities. Difficulty levels increase as participants improved, keeping things fresh and motivating!
The multi-center clinical trial includes people with early to mid-stage PD (ages 50-75) with participants being randomly assigned to one of two groups for a 10-week program. Participants in the first “DT group” combine treadmill walking with playing cognitive games at the same time, while the control group participants perform treadmill walking and cognitive games, but not together.
How is Progress Measured?
Researchers assess trial participants’ gait and balance using treadmill sensors for accurate, consistent measurement. Cognitive function is assessed through both neuropsychological tests and specialized game scores, and brain activity is measured using advanced brain imaging techniques (PET and MRI) to look at how different regions respond before and after training. Furthermore, participants wear Fitbits to track their walking routines, and fall rates are recorded for a year after the program.
What Happens in the Brain?
Results of the PET and MRI scans looking at brain changes during DT training reveal that:
- PD participants have reduced brain activity in important areas like the prefrontal cortex before training
- After training, brain activity increases, especially in areas tied to thinking and walking
- People in earlier stages of PD show greater improvements than those in later stages
These results mean DT training may actually help the brain rewire itself (a process called neuroplasticity) which could slow down decline in movement and cognition.
The Benefits of DT Training
Participants who completed the DT treadmill training showed:
- Improved walking speed and stability
- Better balance during multitasking
- Sharper thinking and reaction times
- Greater motivation to exercise
- Fewer falls over time
And most importantly, many found the games fun and engaging, which helps stick with the program.
What It Means for You
This research shows that Parkinson’s treatment is evolving – not just with pills or traditional exercises, but with technology and creativity. Exciting innovations are on the horizon for living well and staying active with PD. The good news is that the trial is still ongoing and if you’re interested in participating, you can reach out to Dr Szturm’s team per the details below:
Kavisha Mehta,
Senior Research Assistant,
431-997-3334
Kavisha.Mehta@umanitoba.ca
References
Szturm T. et al. (2021). Changes in Metabolic Activity and Gait Function by Dual-Task Cognitive Game-Based Treadmill System in Parkinson’s Disease. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2021.680270
Have a question?
Contact us at:
Phone: 204-510-4869
Email: info@uturnpd.org