While AMPK activity and mitochondrial gene expression mediated by downstream transcriptional factors such as PGC-1α and FOXO are elevated during health-benefitting activities such as exercise (Cantó et al., 2010), hyperactivated AMPK has also been reported in several neurodegenerative diseases with proteostasis decline (Burkewitz et al., 2014). This evidence concerns the gene PPARGC1A and neurodegenerative disease.