Animal study · Exercise · 2 Nov 2026
In a rodent model, tongue exercise raised output from surviving motor neurons
Source: SciTechDaily
What the research found
SciTechDaily, 2 November 2026, reported a University of Missouri preclinical study: tongue exercise increased the activity of surviving motor neurons in a rodent model of hypoglossal motor-neuron loss, the cells that drive tongue movement. The paper, in the Journal of Neurophysiology (Keilholz and colleagues; the news citation dates the paper 12 May 2026), is titled Impact of tongue exercise on hypoglossal axis survival, structure, and output in a rodent model. A separate write-up of the same paper says the exercise did not raise the number of surviving neurons; it changed the output of the ones that remained. Nicole Nichols said human trials would still be required. This is not a treatment for ALS and it was not done in people. Not medical advice.
Evidence level: Animal study. Results in animals or cells often don't carry over to people.
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