Progress in neurobiologyJan 19, 2019

Timing-Based Treatments for Parkinson's Disease

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 2, 2026

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second-most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder, affecting millions worldwide.

Non-motor symptoms (NMS) are recognized as integral to Parkinson's disease, alongside the typical motor dysfunctions.
Therapies targeting NMS remain a critical unmet clinical need in the management of PD.
Circadian system alterations have been characterized in PD patients, suggesting a link between disrupted biological rhythms and disease symptoms.
Bright light, physical exercise, and melatonin are proposed as potential therapeutic tools to alleviate both motor and non-motor symptoms in PD.
These therapies may enhance the overall quality of life and wellbeing for individuals living with Parkinson's disease.

Simplified

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second-most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Although the clinical diagnosis of PD is still based on its cardinal motor dysfunctions, several non-motor symptoms (NMS) have been established as integral part of the disease. Unlike motor disorders, development of therapies against NMS are still challenging and remain a critical unmet clinical need. During the last decade, several studies have characterised the molecular, physiological and behavioural alterations of the circadian system in PD patients. As a consequence, and given the ubiquitous nature of circadian rhythms in the entire organism, the biological clock has emerged as a potential therapeutic target to ease suffering from both motor and NMS in PD patients. Here we discuss the emerging field of using bright light, physical exercise and melatonin as chronotherapeutic tools to alleviate motor disorders, sleep/wake alterations, anxiety and depression in PD patients. We also highlight the potential of these readily available therapies to improve the general quality of life and wellbeing of PD patients. Finally, we provide specific data- and mechanisms-driven recommendations that might help improve the therapeutic benefit of light and physical exercise in PD patients.

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Competing interests

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

PubMed

Timing-Based Treatments for Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

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Competing interests

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