Research Library
The Research Library is designed to give you access to some of the science that supports the basis on which we have developed the 4D Life programme.
In this section of the website, we highlight and link to examples of some of the evidence that underpins the programme. There is now a substantial weight of evidence proving that the right exercise, diet and lifestyle choices can have a significant effect on motor and cognitive symptoms, quality of life and progression.
When looking at research it is important to remember that it is rare for any one study to provide definitive answers. Sample size is important, meaning results from a study involving hundreds of people are more reliable than a study involving tens. But the key is to look at the evidence in the whole, taking account of peer review, consensus, rigorous practice and also sample size.
To read the entire research document usually involves a small fee to buy access, but we have provided a brief summary, and the links take you to the abstract and page where the full text can be purchased.
- European Physiotherapy Guidelines for Parkinson’s Disease, developed with 20 European professional associations
https://www.parkinsonnet.nl/app/uploads/sites/3/2019/11/eu_guideline_parkinson_guideline_for_pt_s1.pdf - Exercise alleviates Parkinsonism; Clinical and laboratory evidence
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0404.2010.01360.x - The Role of Exercise in Treating Parkinson’s Disease
https://practicalneurology.com/articles/2018-may/the-role-of-exercise-in-treating-parkinsons-disease - Progressive Resistance Training Improves Bradykinesia, Motor Symptoms and Functional Performance in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6986410/ - Effects of Moderate-Volume, High-Load Lower-Body Resistance Training on Strength and Function in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Study
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2957327/ - A two-year randomised controlled trial of progressive resistance exercise for Parkinson’s disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3701730/ - Physical Exercise For Parkinson’s Disease: Clinical And Experimental Evidence
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5897963/ - Exercise and Parkinson’s: Frequently Asked Questions, The Michael J Fox Foundation
https://www.michaeljfox.org/news/exercise-and-parkinsons-frequently-asked-questions - Diet, exercise and physical wellbeing, The European Parkinson’s Disease Association
https://www.epda.eu.com/living-well/wellbeing/diet-exercise-and-physical-wellbeing/exercise/
GENERAL
- Mediterranean Diet
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/what-is-a-mediterranean-diet/ - Prospective study of dietary pattern and risk of Parkinson disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2225168/ - The Association between Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Parkinson’s Disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3349773/ - Mediterranean diet adherence is related to reduced probability of prodromal Parkinson’s disease
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30306634/ - DASH diet: or ‘Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension’
https://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/wellness-community/health-information/dash-diet - MIND diet: ‘Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay’
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7199507/ - Mind Diet associated with reduced incidence and delayed progression of Parkinsonism in old age
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436549/ - MIND diet slows cognitive decline with aging
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4581900/pdf/nihms693732.pdf - Dietary Variations in a Multiethnic Parkinson’s Disease Cohort and Possible Influences on Nonmotor Aspects: A Cross-Sectional Multicentre Study
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6312592/ - Dramatic improvement of parkinsonian symptoms after gluten-free diet introduction in a patient with silent celiac disease
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00415-014-7245-7 - Gluten Free Diet and Parkinsonism
https://www.parkinsonsresource.org/news/articles/gluten-free-diet-and-parkinsons/ - Dairy products and risk of Parkinson’s disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2232901/ - Intake of dairy foods and risk of Parkinson disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5496517/ - Parkinson’s Disease: No Milk Today?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4155781/ - Nutritional Risk Factors, Microbiota and Parkinson’s Disease: What Is the Current Evidence?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6722832/
CHRONONUTRITION
- Early Time-Restricted Feeding Improves Insulin Sensitivity, Blood Pressure, and Oxidative Stress Even without Weight Loss in Men with Prediabetes
https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(18)30253-5 - Timing of meals: when is as critical as what and how much
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6105931/ - Later circadian timing of food intake is associated with increased body fat
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/106/5/1213/4822338 - Fasting Until Noon Triggers Increased Postprandial Hyperglycemia and Impaired Insulin Response After Lunch and Dinner in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial
https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/38/10/1820.long - Meal timing affects glucose tolerance, substrate oxidation and circadian-related variables: A randomized, crossover trial
https://www.nature.com/articles/ijo2014182 - A smartphone app reveals erratic diurnal eating patterns in humans that can be modulated for health benefits
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4635036/ - Irregular meal-pattern effects on energy expenditure, metabolism, and appetite regulation: a randomized controlled trial in healthy normal-weight women
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/104/1/21/4633920 - Reprogramming of the Circadian Clock by Nutritional Challenge
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4573395/ - A pilot feasibility study exploring the effects of a moderate time-restricted feeding intervention on energy intake, adiposity and metabolic physiology in free-living human subjects
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S2048679018000137
SUPPLEMENTS
- Probiotics: What You Need To Know
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/probiotics-what-you-need-to-know - NHS Probiotics information
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/probiotics/ -
Vitamin D:
- Prevalence of Vitamin D Insufficiency in Patients With Parkinson Disease and Alzheimer Disease
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/65/10/1348 - General BDA and government guideline for Vitamin D in general population
https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/vitamin-d.html -
Omega 3:
- N-3 (OMEGA-3) FATTY ACIDS: EFFECTS ON BRAIN DOPAMINE SYSTEMS AND POTENTIAL ROLE IN THE ETIOLOGY AND TREATMENT OF NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6563911/ - General BDA and government guideline for Omega 3 general population
https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/omega-3.html - Omega-3 Fatty Acids
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-HealthProfessional/ - Omega 3 and Vitamin E supplementation:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28342967/ -
Coenzyme Q10:
- Coenzyme Q10 for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26553164/ - Coenzyme Q10 for Parkinson’s disease
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD008150.pub2/full -
Vitamin E:
- Intake of antioxidant vitamins and risk of Parkinson’s disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5154924/ -
Probiotics and microbiome:
- Probiotics for Parkinson’s Disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6747430/ - Parkinson’s Disease: The Emerging Role of Gut Dysbiosis, Antibiotics, Probiotics, and Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6657920/ - Probiotics: Food Fact Sheet
https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/probiotics.html - The Gut and Parkinson’s Disease—A Bidirectional Pathway
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6558190/ - Interventional Influence of the Intestinal Microbiome Through Dietary Intervention and Bowel Cleansing Might Improve Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7072275/ -
Glutathione:
- Phase IIb Study of Intranasal Glutathione in Parkinson’s Disease
https://www.michaeljfox.org/grant/phase-iib-study-intranasal-glutathione-parkinsons-disease-0?grant_id=1424 - Role of Diet and Nutritional Supplements in Parkinson’s Disease Progression, Laurie K. Mischley
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/omcl/2017/6405278/ -
Ketogenic Diet:
- Nutritional ketosis for mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease: A controlled pilot trial
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259011251930009X - Low‐fat versus ketogenic diet in Parkinson’s disease: A pilot randomized controlled trial
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6175383/ -
Vegan:
- Dramatic Response of Parkinsonism to a Vegan Diet: Case Report
https://www.avensonline.org/fulltextarticles/jpa-2376-922x-03-0016.html - Does a vegan diet reduce risk for Parkinson’s disease?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11516224/ -
Protein Redistribution:
- Major Nutritional Issues in the Management of Parkinson’s Disease
https://air.unimi.it/retrieve/handle/2434/67795/896771/10.1002_mds.22705.pdf - Protein-Restricted Diets for Ameliorating Motor Fluctuations in Parkinson’s Disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5487390/ -
Coffee:
- Coffee consumption and health: umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple health outcomes
https://www.bmj.com/content/359/bmj.j5024 - Impact of Coffee and Cacao Purine Metabolites on Neuroplasticity and Neurodegenerative Disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6082740/
- Exercise-Induced Neuroprotection of the Nigrostriatal Dopamine System in Parkinson’s Disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5675869/ - Triggering endogenous neuroprotective processes through exercise in models of dopamine deficiency
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20083005/ - Exercise-Induced Neuroplasticity in Parkinson’s Disease: A Metasynthesis of the Literature
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/np/2020/8961493/ - Cytokine-, Neurotrophin-, and Motor Rehabilitation-Induced Plasticity in Parkinson’s Disease
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/np/2020/8814028/ - Neuroplasticity and Neuroprotective Effect of Treadmill Training in the Chronic Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/np/2019/8215017/ - Neuroscience of Exercise: Neuroplasticity and Its Behavioral Consequences
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/np/2016/3643879/ - Effects of Simultaneously Performed Dual-Task Training with Aerobic Exercise and Working Memory Training on Cognitive Functions and Neural Systems in the Elderly
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/np/2020/3859824/ - Mindfulness Training among Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease: Neurobehavioral Effects
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/pd/2015/816404/ - Exercise for the lungs
https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/your-magazine/exercise-lungs - The Effects of Respiratory Training in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7683068/
- Can the environment cause Parkinson’s?
https://medium.com/parkinsons-uk/can-the-environment-cause-parkinsons-afdf4e7d67ec - Long-term effects of PM2·5 on neurological disorders in the American Medicare population: a longitudinal cohort study
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(20)30227-8/fulltext - Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Parkinson’s Disease in Denmark: A Case–Control Study
https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/full/10.1289/ehp.1409313?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed - Public Health England – Health Matters: Air Pollution
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-air-pollution/health-matters-air-pollution
