A Turkish Physician Scientist’s Study Receives National Attention

by Bahri Karacay

Shortly after departing the boxing ring, the king of boxing, Muhammed Ali, started having symptoms. First his hands started to shake, and then his movements started to slow down. His speech was also affected. The king, who in his own words, “would fly like a butterfly, but sting like a bee” was suffering from a neurologic disease called Parkinson’s disease.

The disease was first described by James Parkinson in 1817 as “shaking palsy.”  Since then many scientists have studied the disease, which affects the central nervous system.  One physician scientist studying Parkinson’s disease is Ergun Uc, associate professor of neurology, at the Carver College of Medicine of the University of Iowa and Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

“There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease” says Dr. Ergun Uc, “but we can control the symptoms of the disease with medication and deep brain stimulation surgery”.

A recent study by Dr Uc published in journal   Neurology received a nationwide attention both in the United States and Turkey, and was featured in major media outlets such as NPR, NBC, Fox News, and Reuters.

The study included 60 patients with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease. These patients can still live independently, and walk without a cane or a walker.  The participants walked briskly three times a week for the study, with each session lasting 45 minutes. At the beginning and end of a 6-month program, the patients were examined by a battery of tests.  “We found that patient’s motor function, aerobic fitness, mood, executive functions improved significantly” said Uc. “Their fatigue scores were also improved.”

One limitation of the study is that it did not have a control group consisting of Parkinson’s patients who are affected by the disease at similar levels, but did not walk three times a week. “We will continue our research with larger sample sizes which will also include control group” said Dr. Uc and added” the walking should be considered as a supplement to medication for Parkinson’s patients who can practice it with guidance from their doctors.”

Dr. Uc recommends brisk walking for healthy individuals. “The formula is 5x30” says Dr. Uc. “ 5 days a week brisk walking, 30 minutes each time”, consistent with the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans by the US Department of Health and Human Services.