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Neurodegenerative Disease

Personalised nutrition and movement programming can help alleviate deterioration of physiological function.

Numerous research studies have demonstrated that physical exercise positively impacts neurodegenerative diseases by reducing oxidative stress, enhancing neuroplasticity, and improving overall cognitive function.

Key Findings:

Reduction of Oxidative Stress: Exercise helps mitigate oxidative stress, which is a major factor in neurodegeneration. Regular physical activity increases the body's antioxidant defenses, which can neutralize harmful free radicals and reduce oxidative damage to brain cells (MDPI) (BioMed Central).
Enhanced Neuroplasticity: Physical exercise promotes neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections. This is crucial for maintaining cognitive functions and slowing down the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Exercise-induced production of neurotrophic factors, like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), supports neuronal survival, growth, and synaptic plasticity (MDPI) (AOTA).
Improved Cognitive Function: Studies have shown that aerobic exercise, in particular, can improve executive functions, memory, and overall cognitive performance. For example, moderate-intensity aerobic training has been linked to improvements in executive functions and neural efficiency in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (The Institute for Functional Medicine).
Motor and Non-Motor Benefits in Parkinson’s Disease: Exercise is beneficial for both motor symptoms (like balance and risk of falls) and non-motor symptoms (such as cognitive function and quality of life) in Parkinson's disease patients. Regular physical activity can help maintain motor skills and enhance life quality by addressing both physical and cognitive aspects of the disease (The Institute for Functional Medicine).
General Benefits Across Various Conditions: Exercise has been shown to provide benefits across a range of neurodegenerative conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS). In MS patients, exercise improves aerobic fitness, strength, cognition, and overall quality of life. It also helps in managing symptoms and slowing disease progression (BioMed Central) (The Institute for Functional Medicine).

Conclusion

The consensus from multiple studies indicates that physical exercise is a powerful, non-pharmacological intervention for neurodegenerative diseases. It helps reduce oxidative stress, promotes neuroplasticity, and improves cognitive and motor functions, thereby enhancing the quality of life for affected individuals. While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms, current evidence strongly supports the inclusion of regular physical activity as a key component in managing neurodegenerative diseases (MDPI) (BioMed Central) (The Institute for Functional Medicine).