Muscles, Motor Control and Health Promotion

Head Prof. Habil. Dr.  Albertas Skurvydas

There is no doubt that physical activity (PA) and exercises are among the best remedies that can treat 26 chronic diseases (Pedersen and Saltin, 2015). There is plenty of evidence that exercise and physical activity not only improve the well-being of people, but also act as a prevention measure against a number of chronic diseases (metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, stroke, infarction, cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, depression, back pain, cancer, etc.) (Pedersen and Saltin, 2015; Wahid et al. 2016; Warburton and Bredin, 2016). The main strategic goal of the research is to investigate the dependence of metabolic syndrome indicators, cognitive, emotional and motor capacity, fatigue and recovery / rehabilitation on age, physical and cognitive load, social stress, calorie restriction, sleep restraint, temperature and their combinations by integrating modern methods of molecular and systems biology. For the first time in the world, the dependence of aerobic, strength, speed, motor control and different cognitive load of different strategies, calorie restriction, physical and social stress and, most importantly, from age (children, adults, elderly people and people with disabilities) will be examined in the light of changes in “cold mind” indicators (performing function) and “hot mind” (intuitive, heuristic, and emotional) during and after exposure. Our research is based on the ideas of fundamental research on pets that have shown that one-off physical, social, cognitive and emotional stressors and calorie and sleep restriction stimulate not only motor but also cognitive functions, as well as emotional intelligence (Dhabhar, 2015; Brehmer et al., 2014; Marosi and Mattson, 2014; Murphy et al., 2014; Sale et al., 2014;van Praag et al., 2014; Zigmond and Smeyne, 2014; Erickson et al., 2013; Korol et al., 2013; Rothman and Mattson, 2013; Voss et al., 2013; McEwen, 2010-2015; Calabrese, 2008). Now we are looking for the dose-effect dependence. One of the topical issues in the study of the effects of calorie restriction on health is the question of the most appropriate composition of food. The most controversial attitude is towards the importance of the carbohydrate / fat ratio (Hall et al. 2015). At present, high-fat ketogenic diets that allegedly accelerate fat loss and improve health are becoming increasingly popular (Taubes et al. 2012). Therefore, one of our goals is to investigate how the effect of calorie restriction depends on the carbohydrate, fat and protein proportions in food. Another goal is to investigate how the effects of calorie restriction depend on genetic factors focusing on myostatin. It is known that the failure of the myostatin function due to genetic factors significantly increases muscle mass (McPherron et al., 1997). Myostatin neutralization with antibodies is a promising intervention in reducing the adverse effects of cancerous diseases and chemotherapy on muscle mass and function (Hatakeyama et al. 2016). Our main methodological research direction, which enables us to create new knowledge for the people of the world, is the transformation / translating of gene, cell, organ and body fundamental research with pets (calorie restriction and the influence of food components on muscle function and metabolic syndrome) into the peculiarities of human motor and cognitive behaviour. Also, we are interested in vertical and horizontal interdisciplinary research (from molecular biology, physiology, biomechanics to neurophysiology, neuropsychology, psychoneuroendocrine immunology, decision-making science, neurodidactics, neurolaw, neuroeconomics, and motor-cognitive-emotional intelligence). The third methodological novelty is the study of the dependence of indicators of   behaviour patterns of “hot” and “cold” mind change on the physical, emotional, social, cognitive “good” and “bad” stresses and their complex.

RESEARCHER TEAMS:

• Exercise is medicines

(Prof. Habil. Dr. Albertas Skurvydas)

• Motor Control, Training and Neurorehabilitation

(Dr., Assoc. Prof. Dalia Mickevičienė)

• Temperature

(Dr., Assoc. Prof. Marius Brazaitis)

• Muscle-Tendon Damage

(Prof. Dr. Sigitas Kamandulis)

• Methods for Chaotic Dynamics

(Prof. Dr. Kazimieras Pukėnas)

• Empowerment of People with Special Needs

(Dr., Assoc. Prof. Vida Ostasevičienė)

• Neuro-Relationships

(Prof. Dr. Jolita Vveinhardt)

• Neuromuscular Rehabilitation

(Dr., Assoc. Prof. Jūratė Požėrienė)

• Molecular Exercise Physiology and Genetics

(Prof. Dr. Aivaras Ratkevičius)