Voluntary exercise increases striatal dopamine release and improves motor performance in aging mice.
Guendalina Bastioli1, Maria Mancini1, Jyoti C Patel2
1Department of Neuroscience, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 435 E 30th Street, New York, NY 10016, USA.
NPJ Parkinson'S Disease
|December 9, 2025
Summary
Voluntary exercise in aging mice boosts dopamine release in the striatum and enhances motor function. This study shows that aerobic activity improves mobility and neurotransmitter function in older rodents, offering insights for human aging.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Aging commonly leads to reduced mobility across species.
- Aerobic exercise can improve mobility, even in Parkinson's disease patients.
- Previous studies showed voluntary wheel-running enhanced dopamine release in young male mice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if voluntary exercise increases dopamine release in aging mice of both sexes.
- To determine if exercise-induced dopamine release is linked to improved motor performance in aging mice.
Main Methods:
- Aging mice (12 months old) were divided into runners (unlimited wheel access) and controls (locked wheel) for 30 days.
- Motor behavior was assessed, followed by quantification of electrically evoked dopamine release in corticostriatal slices using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry.
Main Results:
- Both male and female mice that ran showed increased dopamine release in the dorsolateral striatum and nucleus accumbens.
- Despite females running farther, dopamine release increases were comparable between sexes.
- Exercise improved locomotion velocity and motor coordination in both male and female runners.
Conclusions:
- Voluntary exercise enhances striatal dopamine release in aging mice.
- Aerobic exercise improves motor performance in aging mice.
- Findings suggest exercise benefits aging humans by boosting dopamine and motor function.
