Physical exercise can help prevent Parkinson's Disease, researchers say

In fact, that's just the beginning of the list. There's no activity that's more important for your long-term health than regular exercise. It could be cardiovascular exercise, strength training, jogging, walking, swimming, yoga or any other form of exercise. Just get off the couch and do it.

• According to a new study, regular exercise could halt the degeneration of nerve cells which are normally destroyed by Parkinson's disease.
• Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh presented their findings today at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego, California.
• Parkinson's disease progressively destroys a substance called dopamine, which is contained in brain cells.
• Dopamine is an essential neurotransmitter that basically allows the brain to control body movement.
• In one study, researchers exposed laboratory rats to a toxin that is known to cause Parkinson's disease.
• However, prior to exposing the rats to the toxin, the researchers forced the rats to exercise for a period of seven days.
• When the researchers examined the brain cells of these animals, they found significantly fewer dopamine-containing neurons died, compared to the animals that had not been exercised.
• Lead study author, Dr. Michael Zigmond believes exercise stimulates the production of key proteins that are required for the survival of neurons.
• "Our data suggest the possibility that exercise can make dopamine neurons resistant to neurotoxins and may therefore be a useful therapy for Parkinson's disease," said Annie Cohen, a doctoral student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.