Construction of a Speed Feedback Therapy System to Improve Cognitive Impairment in Elderly People with Dementia: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

The objective of this study was to construct a speed feedback therapy system with a bicycle ergometer for elderly people with dementia and to assess its feasibility. There were 17 elderly people with dementia in the experimental group and 10 in the control group. In the experimental group, we used the system we devised in this study together with an ordinary ergometer. The Mini-Mental State Examination was performed before and after the interventions to evaluate their effects. No adverse effects occurred during use of the system. No changes in Mini-Mental State Examination scores were observed in the control group, but they increased significantly after the interventions in the experimental group. These results suggest that the speed feedback therapy system can be used as an intervention method to improve cognitive impairment in elderly people with dementia.

Combined Exercise and Cognitive Training System for Dementia Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…With reference to our previous study [4], it was assumed that the change in score on the MMSE in the intervention group would be 3 points and that the standard deviation would be 5.0. On the basis of these assumptions, the size of the sample needed to obtain a detection power of 80% by the two-tailed test (significance level of 5%) was calculated to be 45 subjects in each group.…”

“…Therefore, we paid close attention to rehabilitation of the decline in attention and concentration as a key to alleviation of cognitive impairment. As a result, in 2004, we developed a training method consisting of exercise using a bicycle ergometer along with cognitive training focused on increasing attention and concentration for older adults with dementia [4]. However, it has been pointed out that this system also involves problems: (1) it is not applicable to patients with impaired ergometer riding capability, and (2) it is not simple to use everywhere, because of the difficulty in transporting the equipment.…”

Feasibility and efficacy of speed-feedback therapy with a bicycle ergometer on cognitive function in elderly cancer patients in Japan

“…The actual path pedaled by the subject (actual number of revolutions) is displayed in real time, with the standard path changing constantly. The efficacy of this therapy in improving cognitive impairment in elderly people has been reported previously . For this study, we set the exercise load at 20 W and the maximal number of rotations at 80 rpm, and the pedaling time at 5 min based on our previous studies .…”

“…The efficacy of this therapy in improving cognitive impairment in elderly people has been reported previously . For this study, we set the exercise load at 20 W and the maximal number of rotations at 80 rpm, and the pedaling time at 5 min based on our previous studies . A total of four sessions of the exercise program was undertaken over 4 weeks, at the frequency of one session per week.…”

“…In the present study, we attempted to assess the efficacy of speed-feedback therapy with a bicycle ergometer as a rehabilitation approach aimed at improving the cognitive function of elderly cancer patients. Speed-feedback therapy with a bicycle ergometer is a rehabilitation approach designed to improve the cognitive functions [15], and it has already been reported to be effective in improving the cognitive function of dementia patients; its safety even in the elderly has also been confirmed [15,16]. If the feasibility and efficacy of this therapy as a rehabilitation intervention could be demonstrated in this study, clinical application of this method for the rehabilitation of elderly cancer patients would become possible in the future, which would not only contribute to the expansion of rehabilitation in this field, but provide important suggestions in regard to the support required for maintaining a higher QOL for elderly cancer patients suffering from cognitive decline.…”