Study shows how exercise generates new neurons, improves cognition in Alzheimer's disease

A study by a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team finds that neurogenesis -inducing the production of new neurons - in the brain structure in which memories are encoded can improve cognitive function in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.Research team identifies way to mimic exercise's beneficial effects through pharmacologic and gene therapy."The lesson learned was that it is not enough just to turn on the birth of new nerve cells, you must simultaneously 'clean up' the neighborhood in which they are being born to make sure the new cells survive and thrive.Exercise can achieve that, but we found ways of mimicking those beneficial cognitive effects by the application of drugs and gene therapy that simultaneously turn on neurogenesis and BDNF production."~ Rudolph TanziLearn More -What is the Difference Between Alzheimer ’s and DementiaThe investigation shows that those beneficial effects on cognition can be blocked by the hostile inflammatory environment present in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease and that physical exercise can "clean up" the environment, allowing new nerve cells to survive and thrive and improving cognition in the Alzheimer's mice."In our study we showed that exercise is one of the best ways to turn on neurogenesis and then, by figuring out the molecular and genetic events involved, we determined how to mimic the beneficial effects of exercise through gene therapy and pharmacological agents," says Rudolph Tanzi, PhD, director ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimers desease alzheimers research brain structure cognitive function exercise exercise alzheimer's gene therapy learning memory neurogenesis Rudy Tanzi science Source Type: blogs