Yu Fang, Kolanowski Ann
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Geriatr Nurs. 2009 Jul-Aug;30(4):250-9. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2008.11.001. Epub 2009 Mar 9.
Emerging science suggests that aerobic exercise might modify the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and improve cognition. However, there are no clinical practice guidelines for aerobic exercise prescription and training in older adults with AD. A few existing studies showed that older adults with AD can participate in aerobic exercise and improve dementia symptoms, but lack adequate descriptions of their aerobic exercise training programs and their clinical applicability. In this paper, we summarize current knowledge about the potential benefits of aerobic exercise in older adults with AD. We then describe the development of a moderate-intensity aerobic exercise program for this population and report results from its initial testing in a feasibility trial completed by two persons with AD. Two older adults with AD completed the aerobic exercise program. Barriers to the program's implementation are described, and methods to improve more wide-spread adoption of such programs and the design of future studies that test them are suggested.
新兴科学表明，有氧运动可能会改变阿尔茨海默病（AD）的病理生理过程并改善认知功能。然而，目前尚无针对患有AD的老年人进行有氧运动处方和训练的临床实践指南。现有的一些研究表明，患有AD的老年人能够参与有氧运动并改善痴呆症状，但对其有氧运动训练计划及其临床适用性缺乏充分描述。在本文中，我们总结了关于有氧运动对患有AD的老年人潜在益处的当前知识。然后，我们描述了针对该人群的中等强度有氧运动计划的制定，并报告了该计划在由两名AD患者完成的可行性试验中的初步测试结果。两名患有AD的老年人完成了有氧运动计划。文中描述了该计划实施过程中的障碍，并提出了提高此类计划更广泛采用率的方法以及测试这些计划的未来研究设计。
