Exercise may be crucial to treat rare movement disorders: What new study says

In particular, spinocerebellar ataxia 6 (SCA6), an inherited neurological disorder that impairs motor coordination that has been reported to affect only about 1 in 100,000 people, has led medical researchers to By the way, little attention has been paid to this condition. It is important to note that there are currently no known treatments and only a few alternative treatments: A study by Anna Cook entitled “Activation of TrkB-Akt Signaling Defects in Her Mouse Model of SCA6″. Rescue” results have been published in Science Advances.

exercise with pills

According to McGill’s team, led by professor of biology Alana Watt, in SCA6-affected mice, the health of cells in the cerebellum, the part of the brain implicated in SCA6 and other ataxias, is enhanced by exercise. It turns out that I have recovered. Researchers found that the reason for the improvement was that exercise increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a naturally occurring substance in the brain that supports the growth and development of nerve cells. Importantly, for patients with movement disorders where exercise is not always possible, the team demonstrated that a drug that mimics the action of BDNF may be as effective as exercise.

Why Early Intervention Matters

Furthermore, the researchers found that BDNF levels in SCA6 mice were reduced long before motor deficits appeared. Interestingly, the drug they discovered worked to stop the decline only when administered before visible symptoms appeared.

Dr. Anna Cook, a candidate for Professor Watt’s lab, said: If there are early changes in the brain that people are unaware of, we tend to advocate for more genetic screening and early intervention for these rare diseases.”

(with input from ANI)

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