Research continues into the causes, treatments, and preventative strategies for Alzheimer’s disease. One recent research strand has considered the impact of regular exercise in relation to developing the neurodegenerative condition.
According to Biotechniques, regular physical exercise appears to modulate iron metabolism in the brain and in muscles and this has a correlation with a lower chance of developing Alzheimer’s symptoms.
The research comes from the University of Eastern Finland (Kuopio, Finland), and the focus is with understanding the effects of exercise on Alzheimer’s disease.
The investigation looks at iron metabolism as an accumulation of iron and the dysregulation of brain iron metabolism. This is because iron appears to have an involvement in Alzheimer’s disease, as well aging in general. However, the biochemical mechanisms behind this association have proved to be challenging to understand.
The study indicates that obesity places additional stress on the brain and influences key markers of cognitive health. For this reason, the researchers were keen to understand the effects of exercise, particularly as people age.
Age creates a range of challenges for the human body including a reduced rate of metabolism leading to an increased gain of weight.
This is of interest since physical exercise, when undertaken on a regular basis, exerts an anti-inflammatory effect and, in turn, this exerts a beneficial effect on iron metabolism in the body.
To study these relationships and mechanisms, the researchers used wildtype mice and transgenic mice. The rodents were divided into two groups. Half of the rodents were housed with access to a running wheel and the others were housed in conditions with no additional objects to promote exercise. The study ran for six-months.
During the course of the study, the researchers assessed the levels of iron and iron-related proteins, including iron transporters, present in the brain and in skeletal muscle. The results indicate that regular physical exercise does indeed help to maintain and control both iron storage and iron trafficking in the brain and in skeletal muscle. Therefore, there are potential benefits for helping to ward off Alzheimer’s related risk factors.
The study findings appear in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. The study is titled “Regular Physical Exercise Modulates Iron Homeostasis in the 5xFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease.”
