Ask an Expert: Matthew Sacheli, PhD, Discusses Research on Exercise for Parkinson’s
Matthew Sacheli, PhD, is a Research Program Specialist at the Weston Brain Institute. Dr. Sacheli completed a PhD at the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre (PPRC) and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, under the supervision of Dr. A. Jon Stoessl. His research looked at the therapeutic mechanisms of exercise in Parkinson’s disease using PET and fMRI neuroimaging. During his graduate studies, he also studied sensory-based exercise interventions for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease at the Sun Life Financial Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre.
Please tell us a bit about your research.
We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) brain imaging techniques to show how exercise can change the brain.
fMRI allows us to measure the brain activity of an individual while they are doing a task. fMRIs measure changes in blood flow to different parts of the brain, allowing us to see which parts of the brain are most active during a specific task.
PET imaging uses radioactive drugs called tracers. These tracers group together in areas of your body with higher levels of chemical activity, showing up as bright, glowing spots in the final image. PET imaging can provide insight into the chemical activity of the brain.
We used both types of neuroimaging to show that people with Parkinson’s who exercise regularly have more dopamine released in their brains. We also found that regular exercise increased the amount of activity found in the region of the brain that is regulated by dopamine when compared to people with Parkinson’s who don’t regularly exercise.
We then enrolled people with Parkinson’s who did not regularly exercise, in a three month, three times a week cycling program. After three months, people who took part in the cycling program had more dopamine release and more activity in the region of the brain regulated by dopamine than people who only stretched for three months.
What are the benefits of exercise for people with Parkinson’s disease?
Exercise helps to enhance neuroplasticity and promote healthy brain function. Neuroplasticity refers to our brain’s ongoing ability to form and reorganize connections between brain cells, also called neurons. It is the process at the heart of how we learn, adapt, and function daily.
Our research showed that exercise increases dopamine release, which is an essential chemical in the brain involved in movement, mood, pleasure, and motivation. This mechanism occurs in an area of the brain called the basal ganglia, which is heavily involved in the brain’s control of movement. We also showed that exercise increases activity in an area of the brain that is related to motivation and reward.
An increase in dopamine and activity in these regions of the brain means exercise may improve some of the motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease. Exercise may also help with some non-motor symptoms, such as feelings of apathy and depression.
How can research like yours help in the development of future treatments for Parkinson’s?
By understanding how exercise can change the brain, we can create exercise routines for people with Parkinson’s that maximize the benefits. By showing the effects of exercise are specifically beneficial to people with Parkinson’s, we hope that exercise will become commonly added to the treatment plan for Parkinson’s disease.
What future research is needed to expand our understanding of exercise for Parkinson’s?
There are a number of routes that can stem from this work. Primarily, this work should be replicated in other studies with more participants spread across multiple sites. This will ensure the results are accurate and repeatable.
Additionally, it would be very interesting to look at different types of exercise and how they affect or improve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Exercise in the context of other lifestyle approaches, such as diet and sleep, could also be explored.
How do diet, sleep, and exercise all interact with Parkinson’s?
Our group is currently conducting a longitudinal study, a longer-term project where we observe many factors in our participants throughout the study. This longitudinal study is investigating the long-term effects of exercise on disease progression. Some previous research suggests exercise may slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease, but this has not been proven, so we are hoping to test that idea.
What do you want the community to know about the role of research in Parkinson’s?
Research plays an incredibly important role in Parkinson’s disease, and people with Parkinson’s play an incredibly important role in research. We certainly could not have done any of our studies without the generous financial support and the selfless dedication of all of our participants and their families.
Research projects like this one allow us to gain insight into the complexity of Parkinson’s disease, help begin to unravel the disease, and bring us closer to a cure. Many researchers all over the world, and especially in British Columbia, have dedicated their lives to improving care, and hopefully finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease. We appreciate all of your support.
Anything else you would like to add?
This was an incredibly complex study with many moving parts. I want to thank all of our study participants and their caregivers that dedicated their time and effort to this study. I also want to thank the entire team at the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre and the generous donors at the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Institute, Parkinson Canada, and Parkinson Society BC.
The Parkinson’s disease community in BC has fully embraced me, and it is truly an honour to be able to share these results and give back to the community that has helped me so much. Thank you!
Sources
Sacheli, M. A. (2019). Exercise increases caudate dopamine release and ventral striatal activation in Parkinson’s disease. Movement Disorders, 34(12). Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.27865
This content was published in the Summer 2020 edition of our quarterly magazine, Viewpoints. The content was accurate as of this publication date.