Six-month walking program changes cognitive and ADL performance in patients with Alzheimer

Abstract

Motor inactivity is typical in the later stages of Alzheimer's disease although there is evidence that physical exercise can reduce depression and enhance performance of daily activities. The aim of this study was to determine whether a walking program could reduce the functional and cognitive decline of elderly nursing home residents in the later stages of Alzheimer's disease. A total of 21 patients (84 ± 5 years) were randomly assigned to a walking program (WG) or to a control group (CG). A 6-minute walking test (6WT), the Barthel index of activities of daily living (ADLs), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) tests were performed before and after 24 weeks of the program. The WG showed significant improvement in the 6WT (20%) and ADLs (23%), while the CG decreased in MMSE (-47%), the WG had a slower decline (-13%). This study indicates that it is possible to stabilize the progressive cognitive dysfunctions in nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease through a specific walking program.

Figure 1.

Study overview. m = man; w = women.

Figure 2.

Data from caregivers' logs. Panel A, Individual and group mean (-) weekly distances covered during the 1st and 24th week of the walking program by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) nursing home residents and caregivers. Panel B, Individual number of visits during the program. Dotted line in panel B represents the maximum number of scheduled visits.

Figure 3.

Individual changes after the 6-month walking program. Panel A, Individual changes in the 6-minute walk test (6WT). Panel B, Individual changes in cognitive performance (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]). Panel C, Individual changes in the activities of daily life (Barthel). Open circles represent the walking group (WG) and dark circles the control group (CG).