MIT engineers have made a breakthrough discovery, demonstrating that exercise does more than just keep the body in shape — it plays a significant role in neuron growth. Muscle contractions during exercises release myokines, biochemical compounds that have been observed to trigger fourfold growth in neurons. These findings offer promising insights into the treatment of nerve injuries and pave the way for exploring exercise-based therapies, as reported by
MIT News
,
Myokines, commonly secreted by muscles but in greater quantities during exercise, appear to be a veritable elixir for neurons. At the cellular level, muscle contractions and the subsequent release of these signals create an environment that fosters rapid and extensive neuron growth. This suggests a powerful link between muscle function and neuroregeneration that, until now, has been only marginally understood. In experiments conducted by Ritu Raman’s team from MIT, muscle tissue’s contraction not only induced chemical-based growth but also, mirrored the benefits merely through mechanical stimulation.
The research, led by Ritu Raman, the Eugene Bell Career Development Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, employed light-induced muscle contractions in laboratory-grown muscle tissues to stimulate this process. “Now that we know this muscle-nerve crosstalk exists, it can be useful for treating things like nerve injury, where communication between nerve and muscle is cut off,” Raman told
MIT News
. This discovery holds potential for developing treatments aimed at restoring mobility in individuals affected by traumatic injuries or degenerative neurological conditions.
The research team found that neurons did not only respond to chemical signals but their growth was equally influenced by physical activity, shown by neuron stretching that mimics the movement of muscles during exercise. An interesting outcome of this study was the discovery that neurons could extend their length as effectively in response to mechanical forces as they could to chemical signals. This parallel between biochemical, and physical impacts of exercise, reinforces the notion that the benefits of exercise encompass a holistic influence on the body.
The implications of Raman’s team’s research extend beyond the laboratory. There is a potential that these findings could inform new physical therapy regimens aimed at enhancing neuron regeneration. Currently, targeted muscle stimulation is being evaluated as a strategy to aid people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, pointing to a future where “exercise as medicine” might be taken quite literally in the realm of nerve repair, as per
MIT News
.
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