Health behaviors a year after an early intervention exercise and education program for people with Parkinson's disease.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of an early intervention program on exercise behavior and mood in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) 1 year following participation. Patients & methods: Education and exercise program participants (n = 152) were followed up for 1 year. Changes in exercise behavior and mood and factors associated with these changes were examined. Results: At follow-up, 28% more participants exercised (p < 0.001). Changes in the proportion reporting depression (12% reduction; p = 0.10) or anxiety (4% increase, p = 0.09) were not statistically significant. Conclusion: An education and exercise program promoted positive exercise behavior change sustained for a year, supporting the importance of early intervention for people with PD. Future research should explore sustainable ways to encourage prolonged behavior change, including regular follow-up.