Running away from Parkinsonism
Treadmill exercises restrain Parkinson's disease due to a special protein
One of the recommendations for those suffering from Parkinson's disease is motor activity and regular workouts, in particular treadmill exercises: it has been shown that such exercises help to preserve and improve motor functions. However, until now, scientists did not know which processes at the molecular level help to restrain the development of the disease in this way.
The authors of the new study suggested that running prevents the accumulation of alpha-synuclein protein in brain neurons – by increasing the level of DJ-1 protein (also known as PARK7).
In the experiments, scientists used a mouse model of the age-related development of Parkinson's disease: as in humans, the first symptoms appeared in animals in middle age. All the cages in which the experimental mice were kept were equipped with wheels for running, but they were blocked in animals from the control group. Thus, only the experimental group had the opportunity for regular training.
To confirm the participation of DJ-1 protein in the containment of Parkinson's disease by running, scientists conducted a similar series of experiments with genetically modified animals in which this protein was not produced at all. Just one week of active exercises on the wheel significantly increased the level of DJ-1 in the blood plasma and muscles of animals. At the same time, mice with the DJ-1 gene "turned off" generally showed less interest in the wheel and engaged less. Based on these results, scientists have suggested that the DJ-1 protein is necessary for normal motor activity.
After three months of observations of animals with Parkinson's disease, scientists compared the motor and cognitive characteristics of mice engaged in running and their relatives from the control group. It turned out that regular physical activity allows sick animals to cope better with tasks. The level of DJ-1 protein in this group of mice was generally higher, and the accumulation of alpha-synuclein in the brain was less.
Scientists suggest that similarly, people suffering from Parkinson's disease can prevent the formation of plaques in neurons and save them from death with the help of physical activity, in particular, regular exercise on the treadmill. An article with the results of the study was published in the journal PLOS ONE.
Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurological disorders, the frequency of which is currently growing faster than others.
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