NeuroWebinar & Seminar
1 appointment per week, on Friday at 2.00 pm
**Hybrid seminar: both in presence (max 25 people in Seminar room) and on webex
Hybrid seminar
Friday 15/5/2026 h. 2.00 pm
SEMINAR CYCLE
of the PhD in Neuroscience of Turin
Dr. Nadège Zanou
M.D., Ph.D., head of research and senior lecturer at the University of Lausanne
Exercise and muscle communication to the brain to counteract neurodegenerative disorders
My research has two main axes. The first focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which skeletal muscles adapt to different intensities and modalities of exercise, as well as how muscles communicate with other organs.
The second focuses on the pathophysiology of myopathies, the role of statin intake, and the development of exercise protocols to counteract the disease.
Today, I will talk about my first research axis, specifically the muscle-brain axis during exercise to counteract neurodegenerative disorders.
Regular exercise is associated with significant health benefits. Many studies, including ours, suggest that muscle adaptations play a critical role in these benefits, and that enhanced muscle mitochondrial function is key.
Regular exercise also benefits the brain and is a major protective factor against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, the most common age-related form of dementia, and Parkinson’s disease, the most common neurodegenerative motor disorder. Although there is evidence that exercise induces signaling from skeletal muscle to the brain, the mechanistic understanding of crosstalk along the muscle-brain axis remains incomplete. Here, I’ll provide an overview on the central role of mitochondria in exercise-induced communication routes from muscle to the brain, especially the role of myokines/exerkines, the release of which often depends on mitochondria, and possibly the role of direct mitochondrial transfer. Building on this foundation, we will examine the effects of various exercise modalities and their potential benefits in preventing or mitigating neurodegeneration. I will conclude my presentation by discussing the clinical relevance of the muscle-brain axis in patient care and its current limitations.