A strength exercise program in rats with epilepsy is protective against seizures

Abstract

The beneficial effects of physical exercise on epilepsy, such as a decreased seizure frequency, have been observed following aerobic exercise programs in both clinical and experimental studies. However, it is not well clarified whether other types of exercise, including strength exercise, can provide similar benefits for epilepsy. Forty four animals with epilepsy were continuously monitored 24 h a day for 60 days and divided into two periods of 30 days. The first period was used to determine the number of seizures before beginning the physical exercise program, and the second period was utilized to determine the number of seizures during the strength training. The mean frequency of seizures in the control and SHAM groups increased significantly from period 1 to period 2. Although the frequency of seizures did not change significantly between the two periods of 30 days of observation in the strength exercise group, a significant reduction in the seizure frequency was observed compared with the control and SHAM groups in period 2. Our study demonstrated that a strength exercise program exerted a significant influence on the seizure frequency in animals with epilepsy and strengthens the observed beneficial effect of exercise on epilepsy that has been demonstrated in animal studies. The finding of this nonclinical study can open a new window to verify the beneficial contribution of strength exercise in epilepsy. Further experimental and clinical investigations are necessary to explore the extent to which strength exercise interferes with the epileptic condition.

Physical exercise as an epigenetic modulator of brain plasticity and cognition

“…Exercise is also perceived as one of the most effective therapies to reduce depression (Rethorst and Trivedi, 2013,Kvam et al, 2016) and to improve several aspects of other brain-related diseases such as Parkinson and Alzheimer's, Epilepsy, anxiety and traumatic brain injury (Grealy et al, 1999, Chin et al, 2015, Intlekofer and Cotman, 2013, Matura et al, 2016, de Almeida et al, 2017, Peixinho-Pena et al, 2012, Shu et al, 2014, Reynolds et al, 2016, Jayakody et al, 2014). Concerning to depression, a randomized controlled trial showed a dose-response relationship between exercise and depression score (reduction of 47% of high-dose aerobic exercise and 30% in the low-dose exercise) evaluated by Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) (Dunn et al, 2005).…”

Spreading depression features and Iba1 immunoreactivity in the cerebral cortex of developing rats submitted to treadmill exercise after treatment with monosodium glutamate

“…Therefore, the effects of physical exercise are thought to be neuroprotective, promoting brain health, preconditioning the brain against ischemic insult, and improving long-term functioning (Zhang et al, 2013). In adult animals, these exercise-mediated alterations influence brain excitability and excitability-dependent neurological diseases (Peixinho-Pena et al, 2012). However, little is known about the electrophysiological effects of exercise on the developing cerebral cortex.…”

Epilepsy and physical exercise

“…Even strength training (climbing series with progressively heavier load) improved seizure frequency. 50 Other animal models of epilepsy (penicillin, pentylenetetrazol, kainic acid) have shown similar positive results. [51][52][53] Although these studies reveal important data, they cannot be translated readily to humans.…”