Enhancing neuroplasticity in the basal ganglia: the role of exercise in Parkinson's disease.
Epidemiological and clinical trials have suggested that exercise is beneficial for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the underlying mechanisms and potential for disease modification are currently unknown. This review presents current findings from our laboratories in patients with PD and animal models. The data indicate that alterations in both dopaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission, induced by activity-dependent (exercise) processes, may mitigate the cortically driven hyper-excitability in the basal ganglia normally observed in the parkinsonian state. These insights have potential to identify novel therapeutic treatments capable of reversing or delaying disease progression in PD.
Petzinger
Giselle M
GM
The George and MaryLou Boone Center for Parkinson's Disease Research, Department of Neurology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA. gpetzinger@surgery.usc.edu
Fisher
Beth E
BE
Van Leeuwen
Jon-Eric
JE
Vukovic
Marta
M
Akopian
Garnik
G
Meshul
Charlie K
CK
Holschneider
Daniel P
DP
Nacca
Angelo
A
Walsh
John P
JP
Jakowec
Michael W
MW
D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D004298:Dopamine