WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- No treatment works in the long term against Parkinson's disease, but a scientist at the University of Houston thinks a secret weapon is about to be proven effective: exercise.
In research on mice, pharmacy professor Vincent Lau said, exercise appears to protect nerve cells, which could slow the death of neurons that triggers the disease.
"In Parkinson's, we know particular nerves degenerate, leading to a loss of dopamine within the neuron," Lau said in a statement. "We have not determined a mechanism for the loss of these neurons, but are looking to answer whether or not endurance exercise plays a significant role in slowing the progression of the disease."
Lau bred a unique strain of mice that show characteristics of a chronic, gradually worsening neurodevelopmental disease. Using those mice, he is studying the impact of endurance exercise on neurons.
"Currently, treatment for Parkinson's disease only temporarily reduces the symptoms," Lau said. "If we can show that exercise protects neurons from cell death, then we can design physical therapies for individuals who show early symptoms of the disease in an effort to stop it from developing."
A study last year by University of Pittsburgh researchers found rats that had more exercise lost less dopamine when given a toxin that normally induces Parkinson's. A small pilot study with Parkinson's patients is under way to see if exercise helps their condition.
Exercise as a boon to health is widely recognized: Studies have shown it improves cardiovascular health and may slow the aging process. If exercise turns out to be useful against Parkinson's, Lau said, that might have implications for other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Parkinson's, which affects as many as 1.5 million Americans, occurs for unknown reasons and results in loss of 80 percent or more of the dopamine in neurons. Loss of the essential neurotransmitter results in such symptoms as shaking palsy and impaired speech.
Parkinson's mostly affects people over 50, but some cases occur in younger individuals. The most notable person with the disease is actor Michael J. Fox, who was diagnosed at 30 years old in 1991.
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