Effect of aerobic exercise on physical performance in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Nanna Aue Sobol; Kristine Hoffmann; Kristian Steen Frederiksen; Asmus Vogel; Karsten Vestergaard; Hans Brændgaard; Hanne Gottrup; Annette Lolk; Lene Wermuth; Søren Jakobsen; Lars Laugesen; Robert Gergelyffy; Peter Høgh; Eva Bjerregaard; Volkert Siersma; Birgitte Bo Andersen; Peter Johannsen; Gunhild Waldemar; Steen Gregers Hasselbalch; Nina Beyer

doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2016.05.004

Effect of aerobic exercise on physical performance in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimers Dement. 2016 Dec;12(12):1207-1215. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2016.05.004. Epub 2016 Jun 23.

Authors

Nanna Aue Sobol¹, Kristine Hoffmann², Kristian Steen Frederiksen², Asmus Vogel³, Karsten Vestergaard⁴, Hans Brændgaard⁵, Hanne Gottrup⁵, Annette Lolk⁶, Lene Wermuth⁶, Søren Jakobsen⁷, Lars Laugesen⁸, Robert Gergelyffy⁸, Peter Høgh⁹, Eva Bjerregaard¹⁰, Volkert Siersma¹¹, Birgitte Bo Andersen², Peter Johannsen², Gunhild Waldemar², Steen Gregers Hasselbalch², Nina Beyer¹²

Affiliations

¹ Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Unit and Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
² Danish Dementia Research Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
³ Danish Dementia Research Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁴ Dementia Clinic, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
⁵ Dementia Clinic, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, Denmark.
⁶ Dementia Clinic, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
⁷ Department of Geriatrics, Odense University Hospital, Svendborg Hospital, Svendborg, Denmark.
⁸ Department of Geriatrics, Slagelse Hospital, Slagelse, Denmark.
⁹ Zeland University Hospital, Department of Neurology, Regional Dementia Research Centre, Roskilde, Denmark.
¹⁰ Memory Clinic, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark.
¹¹ Research Unit for General Practice and Section of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
¹² Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Unit and Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 27344641
DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2016.05.004

Abstract

Introduction: Knowledge about the feasibility and effects of exercise programs to persons with Alzheimer's disease is lacking. This study investigated the effect of aerobic exercise on physical performance in community-dwelling persons with mild Alzheimer's disease.

Methods: The single blinded multi-center RCT (ADEX) included 200 patients, median age 71 yrs (50-89). The intervention group received supervised moderate-to-high intensity aerobic exercise 1 hour × 3/week for 16 weeks. Assessments included cardiorespiratory fitness, single-task physical performance, dual-task performance and exercise self-efficacy.

Results: Significant between-group differences in change from baseline (mean [95%CI]) favored the intervention group for cardiorespiratory fitness (4.0 [2.3-5.8] ml/kg/min, P <0.0001) and exercise self-efficacy (1.7 [0.5-2.8] points, P =0.004). Furthermore, an exercise attendance of ≥66.6% resulted in significant positive effects on single-task physical performance and dual-task performance.

Discussion: Aerobic exercise has the potential to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, single-task physical performance, dual-task performance and exercise self-efficacy in community-dwelling patients with mild Alzheimer's disease.

Keywords: Aerobic exercise; Alzheimer's disease; Cardiorespiratory fitness; Community-dwelling; Dual-task performance; Self-efficacy; Single-task physical performance.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Alzheimer Disease / therapy*
Cardiorespiratory Fitness / physiology*
Exercise / physiology*
Female
Humans
Independent Living
Male
Quality of Life