Exercise can stimulate the growth of brain cells in Alzheimer's disease, suggests a study in mice



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Thursday, September 6, 2018 – There's a lot of reason to work, and it can be another: a new study reveals that exercise promotes the growth of new brain cells that improve thinking in mice with the disease form Alzheimer.

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have reported that it may be possible to develop gene and drug therapies that would trigger the same beneficial effects in people with brain disease.

"Although we do not yet have the means to achieve the same effects in patients, we have determined the precise targets of proteins and genes to develop ways to do so in the future," said Se Hoon Choi. . Choi is in the research unit in Genetics and Aging Hospital.

In mice, the Choi team said that exercise resulted in the production of new neurons (neurogenesis) in brain regions where memories are encoded.

The lead author of the study, Rudolph Tanzi, is director of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at MGH. He stated that the research team "has shown that exercise is one of the best ways to activate neurogenesis.Then, in determining the molecular and genetic events involved, we have determined how to mimic the beneficial effects of exercise through gene therapy and pharmacological agents. "

The results of studies in animals are not always reproduced in humans, but Tanzi is optimistic.

"We will then examine whether promoting safe neurogenesis in patients with Alzheimer's disease will help alleviate the symptoms of the disease and whether it may help prevent later symptoms in healthy people "said Tanzi.

The study was published Sept. 6 in the journal Science.

More information

The US National Institute on Aging has more about Alzheimer's disease.

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