Intense exercise increases dopamine transporter and neuromelanin concentrations in the substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease.
Bart de LaatJocelyn HoyeGelsina StanleyMichelle HespelerJennifer LigiVarsha MohanDustin W WootenXiaomeng ZhangThanh D NguyenJose KeyGiulia ColonnaYiyun HuangNabeel B NabulsiAmar PatelDavid MatuskeyEvan D MorrisSule TinazPublished in: NPJ Parkinson's disease (2024)
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons. Exercise has been reported to slow the clinical progression of PD. We evaluated the dopaminergic system of patients with mild and early PD before and after a six-month program of intense exercise. Using 18 F-FE-PE2I PET imaging, we measured dopamine transporter (DAT) availability in the striatum and substantia nigra. Using NM-MRI, we evaluated the neuromelanin content in the substantia nigra. Exercise reversed the expected decrease in DAT availability into a significant increase in both the substantia nigra and putamen. Exercise also reversed the expected decrease in neuromelanin concentration in the substantia nigra into a significant increase. These findings suggest improved functionality in the remaining dopaminergic neurons after exercise. Further research is needed to validate our findings and to pinpoint the source of any true neuromodulatory and neuroprotective effects of exercise in PD in large clinical trials.
Keyphrases
- high intensity
- physical activity
- resistance training
- pet imaging
- magnetic resonance imaging
- multiple sclerosis
- randomized controlled trial
- body composition
- metabolic syndrome
- photodynamic therapy
- spinal cord injury
- blood brain barrier
- brain injury
- subarachnoid hemorrhage
- open label
- phase ii
- positron emission tomography
- diffusion weighted imaging
- double blind