New research from School of Kinesiology PhD students and faculty provides evidence that exercise can protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

PhD student Corey Mazo is first author of the article “High Intensity Acute Aerobic Exercise Elicits Alterations in Circulating and Skeletal Muscle Tissue Expression of Neuroprotective Exerkines,” published in a special issue of Brain Plasticity. The study examines whether increasing aerobic exercise intensity would increase the amount of Cathepsin B (CTSB), a myokine, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF), which have been found to possess neuroprotective effects.

Jacob Haus, associate professor of Movement Science, is the article’s corresponding author. Michael Vesia, assistant professor of Movement Science, and PhD student James Shadiow are contributing authors.

“CTSB and BDNF are promising therapeutic targets that may delay the onset and progression of cognitive impairments,” said Haus. “Future studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms regulating their release, processing, and fiber-type specific role in skeletal muscle tissue.”

Read the press release at myumi.ch/84m83. Read the journal article at content.iospress.com/articles/brain-plasticity/bpl220137.