Author:
Mehla Jogender,Deibel Scott H.,Karem Hadil,Hossain Shakhawat,Lacoursiere Sean G.,Sutherland Robert J.,Mohajerani Majid H.,McDonald Robert J.
Abstract
Abstract
Background
An active lifestyle is associated with improved cognitive functions in aged people and may prevent or slow down the progression of various neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). To investigate these protective effects, male APPNL-G-F mice were exposed to long-term voluntary exercise.
Methods
Three-month-old AD mice were housed in a cage supplemented with a running wheel for 9 months for long-term exercise. At the age of 12 months, behavioral tests were completed for all groups. After completing behavioral testing, their brains were assessed for amyloid pathology, microgliosis, and cholinergic cells.
Results
The results showed that APPNL-G-F mice allowed to voluntarily exercise showed an improvement in cognitive functions. Furthermore, long-term exercise also improved anxiety in APPNL-G-F mice as assessed by measuring thigmotaxis in the Morris water task. We also found reductions in amyloid load and microgliosis, and a preservation of cholinergic cells in the brain of APPNL-G-F mice allowed to exercise in their home cages. These profound reductions in brain pathology associated with AD are likely responsible for the observed improvement of learning and memory functions following extensive and regular exercise.
Conclusion
These findings suggest the potential of physical exercise to mitigate the cognitive deficits in AD.
Funder
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant
Alberta Prion Research Institute
Canadian Institute for Health Research
Alberta Innovates
Alberta Alzheimer Research Program
Alzheimer Society of Canada
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Cognitive Neuroscience,Neurology (clinical),Neurology
Cited by
5 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献