Effects of Multicomponent Exercise Training Program on Biochemical and Motor Functions in Patients with Alzheimer’s Dementia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a multicomponent exercise training program on motor function and biochemical markers in patients with Alzheimer’s-type dementia. Twenty patients with Alzheimer disease, divided into the intervention group (IG; aged 84 ± 3.1 years) and the control group (CG; aged 86 ± 2.6 years) were included in this study. The intervention group was enrolled into an exercise training program for three months (two sessions of 60 min per week). The CG was instructed to follow their daily rhythm of life (e.g., rest, reading) without a physical training program. After 3 months of participation in a multicomponent exercise program, gait speed, balance and walking parameters were all improved in the intervention group as measured with the Berg Balance Scale, the Tinetti test, the 6-min walking test and the timed up and go test (p < 0.05 for all; percentage range of improvements: 3.17% to 53.40%), except the walking while talking test, and biochemical parameters were not affected (p > 0.05). Our results demonstrate that exercise improves postural control, aerobic capacity and mobility functions in patients with Alzheimer disease. Physical exercise is a safe and effective method for treating physical disorders in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and can easily be integrated in various programs for the management of Alzheimer disease.

Remediation of cognitive and motor functions in Tunisian elderly patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease: implications of music therapy and/or physical rehabilitation

“…This shows that these two non-drug rehabilitation techniques could provide therapeutic potential for the improvement of multiple aspects of cognitive and motor functions in elderly Tunisian adults male and female with mild AD. These results agree with the findings obtained by Palleschi et al (1996) , Rolland et al (2007) , and Chortane et al (2022) who reported that endurance exercise improved global cognitive functions assessed using the MMSE, and walking and balance in people with AD. Also, Shen et al confirmed that a physical activity program significantly improves muscle strength, flexibility, agility, dynamic balance, endurance, walking and decreases the risk of falls following a program of 12 weeks ( Shen et al, 2008 ).…”

Incidence and Factors Associated with Falls in Older People in a Long-Term Care Facility: A Prospective Study in Taiwan

“…As these factors also contributed to a higher Hendrich fall-risk score, caregivers can implement preventive care processes to reduce falls based on the information from these assessments, as noted in this study. Walking, lower-limb muscle toning, and balance training have been reported to reduce the risk of falls [26]. These conditions could be managed adequately by care providers.…”

Effects of aerobic exercise training in oxidative metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis markers on prefrontal cortex in obese mice

“…Oxidative stress is the process that can be defined as an imbalance between the production of the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and their elimination [ 21 , 22 ]. According to data in literature, several neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer, Parkinson, Huntington, and Multiple sclerosis) are associated with higher levels of ROS and the establishment of oxidative stress [ 21 , 23 , 24 ]. In the same way, recent data in the literature suggest the important role of ROS and oxidative stress in the brain dysfunctions associated with obesity [ 25 , 26 ].…”