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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2017 Aug 29;9(1):68.
doi: 10.1186/s13195-017-0289-z.

Structured physical exercise improves neuropsychiatric symptoms in acute dementia care: a hospital-based RCT

Tim Fleiner  1   2 , Hannah Dauth  3 , Marleen Gersie  3 , Wiebren Zijlstra  4 , Peter Haussermann  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Structured physical exercise improves neuropsychiatric symptoms in acute dementia care: a hospital-based RCT

Tim Fleiner et al. Alzheimers Res Ther. .

Abstract

Background: The primary objective of this trial is to investigate the effects of a short-term exercise program on neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms in acute hospital dementia care.

Methods: Within a hospital-based randomized controlled trial, the intervention group conducted a 2-week exercise program with four 20-min exercise sessions on 3 days per week. The control group conducted a social stimulation program. Effects on neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms were measured via the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Clinical Global Impression of Change, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory. The antipsychotic and sedative dosage was quantified by olanzapine and diazepam equivalents.

Results: Eighty-five patients were randomized via minimization to an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG). Seventy patients (82%) (mean age 80 years, 33 females, mean Mini Mental State Examination score 18.3 points) completed the trial. As compared to the CG (n = 35), the IG (n = 35) showed significantly reduced neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms. Especially, agitated behavior and lability improved. There were no between-group differences concerning antipsychotic and benzodiazepine medication.

Conclusions: This exercise program is easily applicable in hospital dementia care and significantly reduces neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms in patients suffering from predominantly moderate stages of dementia.

Trial registration: German Clinical Trial Register DRKS00006740 . Registered 28 October 2014.

Keywords: Antipsychotic medication; Dementia; Exercise; Hospital; Neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms; Physical activity; Sedative medication; Social stimulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This trial has been approved by the ethics committee of the Medical Chamber Northrhine (reference number: 2014216) and the ethics committee of the German Sport University Cologne. Written informed consent from the patient’s legal guardian as well as from the patient, if possible, has to be given to include a patient.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study flow chart
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effects on neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms (ADCS-CGIC). ADCS-CGIC Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study-Clinical Global Impression of Change (range 1–7 points: 1 = very much improved; 4 = no change; 7 = very much worse)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Effects on neuropsychiatric sign and symptoms (NPI and CMAI): significant group × time interactions. NPI range and scaling, 0–144 points (0 meaning no symptoms); dimension ‘behavior symptoms’, 0–48 points (0 meaning no symptoms). CMAI range and scaling, 29–203 points (29 meaning no symptoms); dimension ‘verbally agitated behavior’, 4–28 points (4 meaning no symptoms). IG intervention group, CG control group, NPI Neuropsychiatric Inventory; CMAI Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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