Can Exercise Help Multiple Sclerosis
Some promising research
Exercise is an important component of the management of multiple sclerosis (MS). There are several reasons why exercise is beneficial for people with MS, but the primary reason is to help maintain physical function and prevent disability.
MS is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, leading to damage of the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibers. This damage can cause a range of symptoms, including weakness, fatigue, and difficulty with coordination and balance. Over time, these symptoms can lead to physical disability.
Regular exercise can help to counteract some of the negative effects of MS on physical function. For example, exercise can help to improve muscle strength and endurance, increase flexibility and range of motion, and improve balance and coordination. Exercise can also help to reduce fatigue and improve mood, which are common symptoms of MS.
In addition to these benefits, there is growing evidence that exercise may have neuroprotective effects in people with MS. While the exact mechanisms are not yet fully understood, research suggests that exercise may promote the growth and survival of neurons, protect against inflammation and oxidative stress, and support the repair and regeneration of damaged neural tissue. Animal studies have shown that exercise can stimulate the production of growth factors that promote the growth and survival of neurons. There is also some evidence from human studies that exercise may help to slow the progression of MS and reduce the risk of relapses.
One of the ways that exercise has been purported to promote neuroprotection is by stimulating the production of growth factors in the brain and spinal cord. Growth factors are proteins that promote the growth, survival, and differentiation of neurons, and are essential for the development and maintenance of healthy neural tissue. Studies in animals have shown that exercise can stimulate the production of growth factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which may help to support the survival and growth of neurons in people with MS.
Exercise may also help to protect against inflammation and oxidative stress, which are key drivers of the damage to myelin and neurons in MS. Studies have shown that exercise can reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increase the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, which can help to dampen the inflammatory response in the brain and spinal cord. Exercise may also help to reduce oxidative stress by increasing the production of antioxidant enzymes and reducing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage neural tissue.
In addition to these effects, exercise may also support the repair and regeneration of damaged neural tissue in people with MS. Animal studies have shown that exercise can stimulate the production of myelin-forming cells in the brain and spinal cord, and may also promote the growth of new neurons and synapses. While more research is needed to understand the full extent of these effects in humans, there is growing evidence that exercise may help to slow the progression of MS and improve outcomes for people with the disease.
It is very exciting to see the progress in the research and hopefully soon we can have improved early detection methods. Hopefully the detection methods can become so advanced that it is detectable before symptoms occur, and the neuroprotective exercise can be implemented earlier to give an even better outcome.
MS or not, it is important that we all implement some type, and better yet a variety, of exercise into our days to prevent/delay the inevitable neural decline that comes with age. Whether it be physical or cognitive, exercise that is correctly prescribed can help.
