Why exercise slows progression of PD: reduces α-synuclein aggregation

[aspergerian]

Why exercise slows progression of Parkinson's disease. Exercise can stop accumulation of a harmful protein in the brain.

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Running wheel exercise reduces α-synuclein aggregation and improves motor and cognitive function in a transgenic mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

journals.plos.org/plosone/a...

[open access]

[Xenos]

You made my day, Aspergerian. Thanks.

[Astra7]

Damn. Why is the solution never eat more chocolate!

Do you excercise and what do you do? I can't face running and swimming doesn't really raise the heart beat.

[Beckey in reply to Astra7]

What about dancing? Zydeco, or swing dancing, maybe? It's such a non-competitive, friendly atmosphere -- all ages, etc.

[Astra7 in reply to Beckey]

That's a good idea. I like to have fun while I excercise.

[jeffreyn in reply to Astra7]

Hi Astra7,

You must have missed the memo. The answer is exactly that - (dark) chocolate.

parkinsonsnewstoday.com/201...

Jeff

[Astra7 in reply to jeffreyn]

Excellent! I'll get onto that!

[etterus]

It’s been a year or two since I read any of the rat research but there was a significant distinction between “voluntary exercise and forced.” The forced rats were on a treadmill with electrodes attached to their tails punishing them for not maintaining a high level of output.

Another issue was what the long term outcome at the cessation of the study addressed... would the improvements in functional activity remain higher for the forced group. As I recall the implication was that the decline was delayed for a short while but the eventual decline was not altered.

[jeffreyn in reply to etterus]

I think the idea is to put off the "cessation of the study" until a cure is found, or until you pass away from some other cause, or until ...

[sunvox in reply to etterus]

Not intended to be mean, but just offering a counter point.

-

-

Forgive me if I have it wrong, but it seems as if you are saying: if it means doing this forever what's the point.

-

-

The benefits of exercise are myriad and well researched. Eating healthy and staying as fit as you can, can only be a good thing, and now people have a hint of scientific proof that exercise may have some direct impact on the underlying pathology that causes PD. How can that possibly be anything but positive?

-

-

Plus PwPD already had this study for evidence so I'm not sure what more "proof" one needs to exercise everyday if it's possible.

jamanetwork.com/journals/ja...

-

-

Anyways, just offering a differing opinion.

[etterus]

I agree 100% that exercise of all types are essential for PWP. It’s just that we will probably need to be exercising to live for the balance of our life like the rats on a treadmill. The neuroplasticity phenomenon requires perpetual reinforcement or otherwise its disappearing.... use it or lose it overnight.

[Ozie]

Oh to be a mouse!