Regular exercise offers a wide range of benefits, including protecting the brain from aging and preventing dementia. However, not everyone can engage in regular physical activity, which is why researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of California Los Angeles are exploring the possibility of turning such brain benefits into a potential drug.
The virtues of exercise go far beyond controlling body weight. From improved mood to building protective muscle mass, the benefits are many. This is why i Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that adults do at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week, supplemented by two days of muscle strengthening. However, not everyone can achieve these levels of activity, whether for reasons related to age, injury or medical conditions.
A crucial aspect of exercise during aging is its ability to activate the brain-muscle axis, releasing myokins, small proteins with neuroprotective properties. This process could help protect against Alzheimer’s disease, although i underlying mechanisms are still unclear.
A study conducted by the professor Constance Cortes of USC examined a group of mice suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, comparing them with mice genetically modified to have enhanced muscle function. The muscle-enhanced mice showed better performance on cognitive tests and fewer signs of accumulation of amyloid beta, a protein implicated in Alzheimer’s disease, in the brain.
Further benefits were observed when a dose of myokins was injected into healthy mice, suggesting the potential of this approach as a future medical therapy. Cortes pointed out that this could be an option for people who cannot physically exercise as required.
While it will take some time before such an intervention can be applied to humans, the research team is already actively working on this possibility, with the aim of developing “exercise-in-a-pill” treatments for the brain.
The study was published in the journal GeroSciencepaving the way for new perspectives in the field of research on the therapeutic potential of physical exercise for brain health.
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Harness the benefits of exercise without requiring traditional physical activity, we could potentially create new therapeutic strategies for individuals at risk of cognitive decline.
As a website editor for world-today-news.com, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Constance Cortes, a professor of gerontology at the University of Southern California, and Dr. Alexandra Ycaza, a physical therapist and researcher at the University of California Los Angeles, about their groundbreaking research on the potential of turning exercise benefits into a drug. The interview was divided into three main sections: the importance of exercise for brain health, the role of the brain-muscle axis, and the development of “exercise-in-a-pill” treatments.
Section 1: The Importance of Exercise for Brain Health
Interviewer: Could you please explain the importance of exercise for brain health?
Constance: Regular exercise offers numerous benefits for brain health, including improving cognitive function, protecting against age-related decline, and potentially preventing dementia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week to maintain a healthy brain. However, not everyone can achieve these levels due to various factors such as age, injury, or medical conditions. Our research aims to find a potential solution for these individuals.
Interviewer: Why is it crucial to study the brain-muscle axis in relation to Alzheimer’s disease?
Alexandra: Exercising muscles release small proteins called myokins, which have neuroprotective properties. These proteins can potentially cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the brain, reducing inflammation and toxin buildup associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Understanding the mechanisms behind this response and how to optimize it could lead to new therapies for people who are unable to engage in regular physical activity.
Section 2: The Role of the Brain-Muscle Axis
Interviewer: Your study showed that mice with enhanced muscle function performed better on cognitive tests and had fewer signs of amyloid beta accumulation in the brain. What does this mean for potential treatments?
Constance: Our findings suggest that enhancing muscle function through exercise-like interventions may have a significant impact on cognitive function and Alzheimer’s disease progression. By developing methods to
