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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A recent study suggests physical exercise may strengthen the blood- brain barrier, limiting harmful materials from entering the brain.
In the study, 3-month-old male mice represented men in their 20s. A group of 25 mice were held five weeks with exercise wheels that were used regularly and given the human equivalent of one gram of methamphetamine. These mice were compared with 25 mice that were also injected with the meth but did not have access to exercise wheels.
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After analyzing the results, researchers found the meth caused higher body temperatures as well as agitated and increased physical activity in all the mice. However, the non-active mice experienced increased oxidative stress, affecting the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. The active mice experienced no such results.
Results show how regular exercise may have yet another benefit -- delaying the formation of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Both diseases are connected with leakage through the blood-brain barrier.
SOURCE: Presented at the Experimental Biology meeting in New Orleans, April 22, 2009
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