Exercise Extends Life in Mice with Ataxia

Research done by Dr. John Fryer and Dr. Huda Zoghbi shows that exercise extends the lives in mice with ataxia.  This was found when the researchers from Texas Childrens' Hospital prescribed exercise for a deadly neurodegenerative disease called ataxia, which involves a lack of coordination with voluntary muscle movement.

When a coresearcher found the gene that caused the disease, they thought the exercise may improve the gait of the mice and were discouraged to find their hypothesis was incorrect.  However, as the research continued, it was discovered that the lives of the mice were extended by the exercise, which occurred early in life.

Exercise increased a growth factor that lessened the intensity of a certain pathway involved with ataxia.  This decreased the production of capicua, a protein that decreases muscle coordination and causes other symptoms associated with atacia.  The decreased levels also spared some neurons in the cerebellum.  The researchers are not sure yet how these results can be applied to humans, but they will look more into this.

http://www.nri.texaschildrens.org/news_events/press_releases/fryer_ataxia.aspx