When nerve cells in the brain deteriorate, the nerves—and, to some extent, the muscles as well—are severely affected. There are currently no curative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A research group at the USZ is investigating how physical exercise affects the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
Neurodegenerative diseases is a collective term for a range of conditions that affect the central nervous system—that is, the brain and spinal cord. The body cannot regenerate dead nerve cells; they are irretrievably lost. Neurodegenerative diseases can affect people of any age, but they become more common with age. The progressive degeneration of nerve cells can lead to problems with motor control (Parkinson’s, Huntington’s), motor coordination (ataxias), or cognitive abilities (dementia). Alzheimer’s disease is the best-known and most common form of dementia, accounting for about 50 percent of all cases. Parkinson’s disease is also more common among older adults, while Huntington’s disease is a rare condition, known as a “rare disease.”
If the motor neurons are primarily affected by the degenerative process, the condition is referred to as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Muscle cells themselves can also degenerate, as is the case, for example, with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. These so-called neuromuscular disorders are also chronic in nature and lead to increasing physical limitations and a reduced life expectancy. Those affected experience rapid fatigue, decreased muscle strength, and muscle wasting, and sometimes pain as well. Impaired muscle function leads to movement and coordination disorders; depending on the course of the disease, however, respiratory, language, speech, and swallowing functions may also be affected.
For many neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases, there is still no curative treatment available. The exact causes, too, often remain unknown. Some of these degenerative diseases are caused by genetic mutations. Even though no curative treatment is available, symptomatic treatment—including medication, physical and occupational therapy, and speech therapy—is extremely important and beneficial for those affected, as it helps improve their quality of life and the course of the disease.
Research on Curative and Supportive Therapies
Research into curative therapies is being conducted worldwide; there are high hopes for gene therapy treatments for diseases that are genetically caused. Various experimental studies have shown that physical exercise promotes neurotrophic factors—that is, factors that can counteract neurodegenerative processes.
At the USZ, the Neuromuscular Diseases and Neurogenetics Research Group is investigating the extent to which physical exercise affects muscle properties and the progression of neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases. Knowing whether—and, if so, which—specific types of exercise have a positive effect on maintaining physical and mental abilities is intended to help patients maintain their independence for as long as possible.
The group is integrated into the Clinical Neuromuscular Center of the Department of Neurology at the USZ. As part of the Center for Integrative Physiology (ZIHP), there is also close collaboration with the Institute of Human Movement Sciences at ETH Zurich.