Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Yuksek Ihtisas University, Ankara, Turkiye; Institute of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkiye.
Institute of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkiye; Department of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkiye.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2024 Apr;119:105321. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2023.105321. Epub 2023 Dec 21.
The physical and cognitive effects of aerobic exercise on dementia have been extensively studied. Further investigation of other types of exercise with different physiological effects is still needed. This study aimed to determine cognitive and physical effects of 6-week aerobic, balance, and combined (aerobic-balance) exercise programs on dementia.
A total of 31 mild to moderate dementia patients aged 65-90 years were divided into three exercise groups. Before and after the 6-week exercise program, mental rotation, spatial orientation, visual memory, and mental status were assessed for cognitive functions, while fall risk, reaction time, lower limb strength, and frailty were assessed for physical functions. Comprehensive cognitive and physical assessments were performed to provide a holistic approach to dementia.
When post-exercise values were compared with pre-exercise values, only frailty decreased significantly in the aerobic exercise group (p = 0.017). After exercise program in balance and combined exercise groups, mental rotation (p = 0.005, p = 0.032), spatial orientation (p = 0.020, p = 0.035), mental status (p = 0.007, p = 0.014), and lower extremity strength (p = 0. 010, p = 0.005) increased significantly, while fall risk (p = 0.005, p = 0.005), reaction time (p = 0.028, p = 0.016), and frailty (p = 0.020, p = 0.009) decreased significantly. Moreover, in contrast to combined and aerobic exercise, improvement in visual memory was also observed in the balance exercise group (p = 0.016).
These findings suggest that balance and combined exercises may have broader effects on dementia than aerobic exercise. It emphasizes the importance of designing exercise programs for dementia patients, considering the cognitive and physical deficits of the patients, and creating a multidimensional treatment approach.
有氧运动对痴呆症的身体和认知影响已得到广泛研究。仍需要进一步研究具有不同生理效应的其他类型的运动。本研究旨在确定 6 周有氧运动、平衡运动和综合（有氧-平衡）运动方案对痴呆症的认知和身体影响。
共有 31 名 65-90 岁的轻度至中度痴呆症患者分为三组运动组。在 6 周运动方案前后，对心理旋转、空间定向、视觉记忆和精神状态进行认知功能评估，同时对跌倒风险、反应时间、下肢力量和虚弱进行身体功能评估。进行全面的认知和身体评估，为痴呆症提供整体治疗方法。
与运动前相比，仅有氧运动组的虚弱程度显著降低（p=0.017）。在平衡和综合运动组进行运动方案后，心理旋转（p=0.005，p=0.032）、空间定向（p=0.020，p=0.035）、精神状态（p=0.007，p=0.014）和下肢力量（p=0.010，p=0.005）显著增加，而跌倒风险（p=0.005，p=0.005）、反应时间（p=0.028，p=0.016）和虚弱（p=0.020，p=0.009）显著降低。此外，与综合和有氧运动相比，平衡运动组的视觉记忆也得到了改善（p=0.016）。
这些发现表明，与有氧运动相比，平衡运动和综合运动对痴呆症可能具有更广泛的影响。这强调了为痴呆症患者设计运动方案的重要性，考虑到患者的认知和身体缺陷，并创建多维治疗方法。
