Scientists from the University of Colorado made nematodes swim regularly, and this helped slow down neurodegenerative processes. The results of the study are presented in the journal Science Advances.
The nematodes Caenorhabditis elegans are often used by scientists in research, these worms can show signs of a neurodegenerative process. In the current work, specialists used two groups of nematodes: the first with Parkinson’s disease, and the second with Alzheimer’s disease.
It is known that regular physical activity can serve as a factor that slows down the death of nerve cells and the progression of the disease. In the work, the scientists forced the worms to swim in a special chamber, despite the fact that it is a soil animal.
As a result, both neurodegenerative processes slowed down. In future works, the authors plan to select the optimal system of physical therapy for worms and study the molecular mechanisms of its action.
