Integrating Whole-Body Cryostimulation into Parkinson's Disease Rehabilitation program: Effects on Stress Biomarkers and Psychological Well-Being. A Pilot Study

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized not only by motor impairments but also by debilitating non-motor symptoms (NMS) such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. These symptoms are often resistant to dopaminergic therapies and significantly impact patients’ quality of life. Whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention with potential effects on stress modulation and psychological well-being. Materials and Methods: 14 patients with idiopathic PD underwent 10 WBC sessions (−110 °C for 2 minutes) over two weeks. Blood samples for cortisol and serotonin were collected before and after the first and last sessions. Patients completed standardized questionnaires evaluating anxiety (STAI-Y1, Y2), depression (BDI), fatigue (FSS), sleep quality (SCI), and daytime sleepiness (ESS) at baseline and after the final session. Results: Significant reductions in serum cortisol and improvements in serotonin levels were observed. Psychological assessments showed decreased anxiety and depression scores, with improvements in fatigue and sleepiness (p < 0.05 for most scales). Discussion and Conclusion: Repeated WBC sessions were safe and well-tolerated, and were associated with biochemical and psychological improvements. These preliminary findings support WBC as a complementary promising intervention for alleviating NMS in PD. Further randomized controlled studies are warranted to confirm these results.