Psychosocial impact of sport activity in neuromuscular disorders

Do age, gender, and subjective health-related factors influence health-related life satisfaction in people with disabilities who are physically active?: a secondary analysis

PURPOSE

This study explored the factors influencing the health-related life satisfaction of people with disabilities who engaged in physical activity, by age and gender.

METHODS

A secondary analysis was conducted of the 2020 Third Disability and Life Dynamics Panel (2021). The participants were 2,796 people who performed regular physical activity at least once a week. The variables selected were disability-related factors (degree of disability, multiple disabilities, and type of disability), sociodemographic factors (age, gender, living alone, and mean monthly family income), and health-related factors (amount of physical activity, self-esteem, depression, chronic disease, subjective health, and health-related life satisfaction). Descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, the t-test, two-way analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis were conducted.

RESULTS

In total, 58.0% of participants were male, and 42.0% were female. For age groups, 14.4% were children/adolescents (0-19 years), 42.6% were adults (20-59 years), and 43.0% were seniors (≥60 years). The mean score for health-related life satisfaction was 5.0±2.15 out of 10. Adults and seniors whose level of physical activity met or exceeded recommendations had higher subjective health. Moreover, men had better subjective health than women in seniors. Health-related life satisfaction was higher among those who had higher self-esteem, were not depressed, did not have chronic diseases, and had better subjective health.

CONCLUSION

Gender significantly influenced health-related life satisfaction in children/ adolescents and seniors. Disability-related factors were significant in adults, and health-related factors were significant in all age groups. Therefore, these factors should be considered when designing interventions to promote subjective health and health-related life satisfaction of people with disabilities.

Role of Sport Activity on Quality of Life in Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A Patients

The present study aims to investigate the benefits induced by physical activity/practiced sport in Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A (CMT1A). Patients were divided into sport and no-sport groups according to their sports performance habit. Thirty-one patients were enrolled, of which 14 practiced sports and 17 did not. Clinical assessments were administered to evaluate disability, self-esteem, depression, quality of life, and pain. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in terms of gender in the no-sport group compared to the sport group (p = 0.04). Regarding the quality of life, physical function (p = 0.001), general health (p = 0.03), social function (p = 0.04), and mental health (p = 0.006) showed better patterns in the sport group than no-sport group. Moreover, neuropathic pain was reduced in the sport group according to the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (p = 0.001) and ID-PAIN (p = 0.03). The other administered questionnaires showed no significant differences. Our study confirms that CMT1A patients, who practice sports, with a similar severity of disability, may have a better physical quality of life while suffering less neuropathic pain than their peers who do not practice sports. Results recommend the prescription of sport in CMT1A patients.

Physical exercise effects on the brain during COVID-19 pandemic: links between mental and cardiovascular health

The current pandemic was caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The quarantine period during corona virus disease 19 (COVID-19) outbreak might affect the quality of life leading thousands of individuals to diminish the daily caloric expenditure and mobility, leading to a sedentary behavior and increase the number of health disorders. Exercising is used as a non-pharmacological treatment in many chronic diseases. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms of physical exercise in COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. We also point links between exercise, mental, and cardiovascular health. The infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 affects host cells binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), which is the receptor for SARS-CoV-2. If there is not enough oxygen supply the lungs and other tissues, such as the heart or brain, are affected. SARS-CoV-2 enhances ACE2 leading to inflammation and neuronal death with possible development of mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Physical exercise also enhances the ACE2 expression. Conversely, the activation of ACE2/Ang 1-7/Mas axis by physical exercise induces an antiinflammatory and antifibrotic effect. Physical exercise has beneficial effects on mental health enhancing IGF-1, PI3K, BDNF, ERK, and reducing GSK3β levels. In addition, physical exercise enhances the activity of PGC-1α/ FNDC5/Irisin pathway leading to neuronal survival and the maintenance of a good mental health. Thus, SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to elevation of ACE2 levels through pathological mechanisms that lead to neurological and cardiovascular complications, while the physiological response of ACE2 to physical exercise improves cardiovascular and mental health.

In Search of a Cure: The Development of Therapeutics to Alter the Progression of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Until the recent development of disease-modifying therapeutics, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) was considered a devastating neuromuscular disease with a poor prognosis for most affected individuals. Symptoms generally present during early childhood and manifest as muscle weakness and progressive paralysis, severely compromising the affected individual’s quality of life, independence, and lifespan. SMA is most commonly caused by the inheritance of homozygously deleted SMN1 alleles with retention of one or more copies of a paralog gene, SMN2, which inversely correlates with disease severity. The recent advent and use of genetically targeted therapies have transformed SMA into a prototype for monogenic disease treatment in the era of genetic medicine. Many SMA-affected individuals receiving these therapies achieve traditionally unobtainable motor milestones and survival rates as medicines drastically alter the natural progression of this disease. This review discusses historical SMA progression and underlying disease mechanisms, highlights advances made in therapeutic research, clinical trials, and FDA-approved medicines, and discusses possible second-generation and complementary medicines as well as optimal temporal intervention windows in order to optimize motor function and improve quality of life for all SMA-affected individuals.