Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Recruiting
Study Type: Interventional
Official Title: Assessment of Autonomic Function and Cardiovascular Response to Exercise Testing in Parkinson's Disease Patients
Brief Summary: This study will compare examine autonomic and cardiovascular responses to peak exercise testing in Parkinson's disease patients in varying stages of the disease, and healthy, age-matched participants. Participants will be asked to complete a peak exercise test on a motorized treadmill. Heart rate, blood pressure, norepinephrine, and other markers for cardiovascular function will be assessed at rest, during exercise, and post-exercise. The hypothesis to be tested is that Parkinson's disease patients will exhibit a decreased autonomic and cardiovascular response to exercise when compared to patients' healthy age-matched counterparts. The investigators secondary hypothesis is that Parkinson's disease patients in more advanced stages will exhibit a greater decrease in response when compared to these patients' Stage 1 counterparts, or healthy age-matched counterparts.