Effects of physical activity training in patients with Alzheimer's dementia: results of a pilot RCT study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is evidence that physical activity (PA) is of cognitive benefit to the ageing brain, but little is known on the effect in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present pilot study assessed the effect of a home-based PA training on clinical symptoms, functional abilities, and caregiver burden after 12 and 24 weeks.

Methods

In an RCT thirty patients (aged 72.4±4.3 years) with AD (MMSE: 20.6±6.5 points) and their family caregivers were allocated to a home-based 12-week PA intervention program or the usual care group. The program changed between passive, motor-assisted or active resistive leg training and changes in direction on a movement trainer in order to combine physical and cognitive stimuli.

Results

Analysis of activities of daily living in t

SUBMITTER: Holthoff VA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4401690 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature