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A recent preliminary study suggests that doing high-intensity physical activity might protect the brain in ways that could not only slow down but maybe even reverse the neurodegenerative processes linked to Parkinson’s disease.
Previous studies have shown a correlation between various types of physical activity and enhanced symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. However, there is a lack of empirical data supporting the notion that engaging in gym workouts might induce effects on the brain. Ten people took part in a preliminary study that showed that high-intensity aerobic exercise effectively protected dopamine-producing neurons. These neurons are especially vulnerable to damage in people with the condition mentioned above.
Indeed, during a six-month period of physical activity, the neurons exhibited improved health and generated more potent dopamine signals. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that facilitates intercellular communication inside the brain. The results of the researchers were recently published in the journal New Publication on Parkinson’s Disease.
And Evan D. Morris, Ph.D., a professor of radiology and biomedical imaging at Yale School of Medicine and co-principal investigator of the paper, says that this study is the first time that imaging techniques have been used to prove that vigorous exercise changes the biology of the brain in people with Parkinson’s disease.
What is the etiology of Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition resulting from the aberrant folding of the alpha-synuclein protein, which is endogenously found inside cellular structures. The accumulation of misfolded proteins inside neurons leads to their subsequent harm.
The dopaminergic cells that are most impacted are located in the substantia nigra, a region in close proximity to the brain’s base. The demise of these cells leads to a deficiency in dopamine, resulting in the manifestation of clinical symptoms associated with the illness, notably motor manifestations such as tremors and reduced motor function. The process is slow, and by the time individuals are diagnosed, they have already experienced a loss of more than 50% of their dopamine-producing neurons.
According to Sule Tinaz, MD, PhD, an associate professor of neurology and co-principal investigator, it may be inferred that the neurodegenerative process may have started many years prior to the clinical manifestation of the characteristic motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Levodopa, the most prevalent medicine, serves as a substitute for the absent dopamine. Although the medication demonstrates efficacy in mitigating motor symptoms, it does not possess the ability to impede the progression of neurodegeneration and may give rise to adverse effects, such as dyskinesia, when used over an extended period of time. At present, there is no remedy for the ailment.
Physical activity has a crucial role in the management of Parkinson’s disease.
Physical activity has a crucial role in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Indeed, several fitness centers provide training regimens tailored exclusively for this ailment. “I consistently inform patients that physical activity is an integral component of their treatment,” said Tinaz. “Exercise is prescribed in the same manner as medication.”
The originator of Beat Parkinson’s Today, an evidence-based non-profit workout program, is Michelle Hespeler, who operates in Connecticut. This organization provides both online and in-person programs around the state. Hespeler’s motivation to develop her curriculum sprang from her own experience of being diagnosed with the condition. According to Tinaz, she integrated the components of high-intensity interval training with the specific requirements of those diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Previous studies have shown that participation in high-intensity exercise, characterized by individuals reaching around 80% to 85% of their age-appropriate maximal heart rate three times per week over a period of six months, is associated with a reduction in the severity of motor symptoms. According to Tinaz, these experiments have shown that exercise has the potential to change diseases in a therapeutic context. The Yale team’s most recent research used the clinical trials as a model.
Brain imaging techniques are used to investigate the effects of high-intensity exercise.
The researchers from Yale University enlisted individuals who had received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease within a timeframe of less than four years for the purpose of their study. During the first phase of their illness, the individuals had not yet experienced complete neuronal loss in the dopaminergic system. Prior to registration, all participants had a two-week trial period to assess their ability to cope with the rigorous nature of the exercise programs.
Following the conclusion of the trial period, the individuals had their first examination of brain scans. An MRI scan was conducted to quantify the quantity of neuromelanin, a dark pigment present in neurons responsible for dopamine production, inside the substantia nigra. The second scan was a positron emission tomography (PET) scan that quantified the availability of dopamine transporters (DAT). DAT is a protein that plays a crucial role in the regulation of dopamine levels inside neurons.
Hespeler’s Beat Parkinson’s Today program facilitated the completion of a six-month high-intensity exercise program by a cohort of 10 individuals. The lessons were conducted in an online format as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic. This course incorporates High Intensity Functional Intervals (HIFI) that are specifically intended to maintain participants’ heart rates at an elevated level for the bulk of the exercise session. The participants were equipped with heart rate monitors to track their adherence to the desired heart rates, as well as other wearable devices such as Fitbits to document their physical activities. The researchers conducted a follow-up of the MRI and PET scans after a period of six months.
Neurodegeneration is reversed by high-intensity exercise.
After a duration of six months, brain imaging revealed a notable augmentation in the neuromelanin and DAT signals inside the substantia nigra. This finding implies that engaging in high-intensity exercise not only had a decelerating effect on the neurodegenerative process but also contributed to the enhancement of the dopaminergic system’s overall health.
According to Bart de Laat, Ph.D., an associate professor adjunct in psychiatry and the primary author of the research, contrary to our initial expectations of a decrease in the DAT and neuromelanin signals, an increase was seen. “We had anticipated a slower progression or temporary cessation of neurodegeneration, but instead, we observed an increase in nine out of ten individuals.” That was extraordinary.
This research emphasizes the significance of including an exercise program in an individual’s treatment plan for Parkinson’s disease. The drugs at our disposal are only intended for the purpose of alleviating symptoms. According to Tinaz, they do not alter the progression of the illness. “However, exercise appears to surpass and safeguard the brain at the neuronal level.”
Although this conclusion is really intriguing, more investigation is required in order to fully comprehend the neuroprotective effects of physical exercise. The team aspires for their study to serve as a source of inspiration for other scientists, encouraging them to prioritize investigations into the potential of exercise for changing diseases.
Parkinson’s disease is poised to become the most rapidly expanding neurological disorder. According to studies, it is projected that the global population affected by this ailment will exceed 12 million individuals by the year 2040. The recent research presents potential benefits in terms of exercise as a means to alleviate the significant personal and economic burdens associated with the condition. “Exercise is universally available, cost-effective, and safe, provided that your healthcare provider grants approval,” states Tinaz. The presence of a neuroprotective impact that has the potential to halt the progression of the illness is a noteworthy development that warrants both celebration and further investigation.
