Neuroscientists from the Catholic University, Rome Campus, and A. Gemelli IRCCS Polyclinic Foundation have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of Parkinson’s disease research. Their study, titled “Intensive exercise ameliorates motor and cognitive symptoms in experimental Parkinson’s disease by restoring striatal synaptic plasticity,” reveals that intensive exercise can slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease by improving brain plasticity and neuronal survival.
The research, published in the journal Science Advances, sheds light on a previously unobserved mechanism and provides a potential path for the development of new non-pharmacological treatments for the disease. The study was a collaborative effort between the Catholic University, Rome Campus, and A. Gemelli IRCCS Polyclinic Foundation, along with several other research institutes.
The study was funded by the Fresco Parkinson Institute, New York University School of Medicine, The Marlene and Paolo Fresco Institute for Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders, the Ministry of Health, and MIUR. It uncovered a new mechanism that explains the beneficial effects of exercise on brain plasticity.
According to Professor Paolo Calabresi, the Full Professor of Neurology at the Catholic University and Director of the UOC Neurology at the University Polyclinic A. Gemelli IRCCS, the research team discovered a never-before-seen mechanism through which exercise performed in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease induces beneficial effects on movement control that may last even after training is suspended. This finding could potentially guide the development of new non-drug treatments to be used alongside existing drug therapies.
Previous research had already suggested a link between intensive physical activity and increased production of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a vital growth factor. The current study successfully replicated this phenomenon using a four-week treadmill training protocol in an animal model of early-stage Parkinson’s disease. It demonstrated how BDNF contributes to the beneficial effects of physical activity on the brain.
The study also investigated the neuroprotective effect of exercise. By employing a multidisciplinary approach, the researchers measured improvements in neuronal survival, brain plasticity, motor control, and visuospatial cognition. They found that daily treadmill training sessions reduced the spread of pathological alpha-synuclein aggregates, which cause dysfunction of neurons in specific brain areas essential to motor control.
The neuroprotective effect of physical activity is associated with the survival of dopamine-releasing neurons in the striatum. This survival is crucial for the ability of striatal neurons to express a form of dopamine-dependent plasticity, which is impaired by Parkinson’s disease. As a result, motor control and visuospatial learning, both dependent on nigrostriatal activity, are preserved in animals undergoing intensive training.
The study also revealed that BDNF, whose levels rise with exercise, interacts with the NMDA receptor for glutamate. This interaction enables neurons in the striatum to respond effectively to stimuli, with effects that endure beyond the exercise period.
Looking to the future, Professor Paolo Calabresi stated that the research team is involved in a clinical trial to test whether intensive exercise can identify new markers to monitor the disease progression in early-stage patients. They also aim to investigate the involvement of glial cells, specialized groups of cells that provide support to neurons and their environment, in the neuroinflammatory and neuroimmune components of Parkinson’s disease. This will help identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the observed beneficial effects of exercise.
The findings of this study have significant implications for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. By understanding the mechanisms through which exercise can slow the progression of the disease, researchers can develop new non-pharmacological treatments that can be used in conjunction with existing drug therapies. This research opens up new possibilities for improving the quality of life for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease.
What is the new mechanism discovered by the Catholic University and A. Gemelli IRCCS Polyclinic Foundation regarding the effects of exercise on Parkinson’s disease?
He Catholic University, Rome Campus, and A. Gemelli IRCCS Polyclinic Foundation have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of Parkinson’s disease research, according to a study published in the journal Science Advances. Their research reveals that intensive exercise can slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease by improving brain plasticity and neuronal survival.
The study, titled “Intensive exercise ameliorates motor and cognitive symptoms in experimental Parkinson’s disease by restoring striatal synaptic plasticity,” sheds light on a previously unobserved mechanism and provides a potential path for the development of new non-pharmacological treatments for the disease. It was a collaborative effort between the Catholic University, Rome Campus, and A. Gemelli IRCCS Polyclinic Foundation, along with other research institutes.
Funding for the study was provided by the Fresco Parkinson Institute, New York University School of Medicine, The Marlene and Paolo Fresco Institute for Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders, the Ministry of Health, and MIUR. The research uncovered a new mechanism that explains the beneficial effects of exercise on brain plasticity.
Professor Paolo Calabresi, the Full Professor of Neurology at the Catholic University and Director of the UOC Neurology at the University Polyclinic A. Gemelli IRCCS, explained that the team discovered a never-before-seen mechanism through which exercise performed in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease induces beneficial effects on movement control that may last even after training is suspended. This finding could potentially guide the development of new non-drug treatments to be used alongside existing drug therapies.
Previous research had already suggested a link between intensive physical activity and increased production of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a vital growth factor. The current study successfully replicated this phenomenon using a four-week treadmill training protocol in an animal model of early-stage Parkinson’s disease. It demonstrated how BDNF contributes to the beneficial effects of physical activity on the brain.
In addition to exploring the role of BDNF, the study also investigated the neuroprotective effect of exercise. The researchers employed a multidisciplinary approach and measured improvements in neuronal survival, brain plasticity, motor control, and visuospatial cognition. The results demonstrated daily exercise’s positive impact on these factors.
Overall, this groundbreaking research provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of intensive exercise for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. It offers hope for the development of new non-pharmacological treatments that can slow the progression of the disease and improve patients’ quality of life.
