TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of a home-based exercise program in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
T2 - The Maximizing Independence in Dementia (MIND) study
AU - Steinberg, Martin
AU - Sheppard Leoutsakos, Jeannie Marie
AU - Podewills, Laura Jean
AU - Lyketsos, C. G.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Objective: To determine the feasibility and efficacy of a home-based exercise intervention program to improve the functional performance of patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Methods: Twenty-seven home-dwelling patients with AD were randomized to either an exercise intervention program delivered by their caregivers or a home safety assessment control. Measures of functional performance (primary), cognition, neuropsychiatric symptoms, quality of life and caregiver burden (secondary) were obtained at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks following randomization. For each outcome measure, intent-to-treat analyses using linear random effects models were performed. Feasibility and adverse events were also assessed. Results: Adherence to the exercise program was good. On the primary outcomes (functional performance) patients in the exercise group demonstrated a trend for improved performance on measures of hand function and lower extremity strength. On secondary outcome measures, trends toward worse depression and lower quality of life ratings were noted. Conclusions: The physical exercise intervention developed for the study, delivered by caregivers to home-dwelling patients with AD, was feasible and was associated with a trend for improved functional performance in this group of frail patients. Given the limited efficacy to date of pharmacotherapies for AD, further study of exercise intervention, in a variety of care setting, is warranted.
AB - Objective: To determine the feasibility and efficacy of a home-based exercise intervention program to improve the functional performance of patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Methods: Twenty-seven home-dwelling patients with AD were randomized to either an exercise intervention program delivered by their caregivers or a home safety assessment control. Measures of functional performance (primary), cognition, neuropsychiatric symptoms, quality of life and caregiver burden (secondary) were obtained at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks following randomization. For each outcome measure, intent-to-treat analyses using linear random effects models were performed. Feasibility and adverse events were also assessed. Results: Adherence to the exercise program was good. On the primary outcomes (functional performance) patients in the exercise group demonstrated a trend for improved performance on measures of hand function and lower extremity strength. On secondary outcome measures, trends toward worse depression and lower quality of life ratings were noted. Conclusions: The physical exercise intervention developed for the study, delivered by caregivers to home-dwelling patients with AD, was feasible and was associated with a trend for improved functional performance in this group of frail patients. Given the limited efficacy to date of pharmacotherapies for AD, further study of exercise intervention, in a variety of care setting, is warranted.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67649344641&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67649344641&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/gps.2175
DO - 10.1002/gps.2175
M3 - Article
C2 - 19089875
AN - SCOPUS:67649344641
SN - 0885-6230
VL - 24
SP - 680
EP - 685
JO - International journal of geriatric psychiatry
JF - International journal of geriatric psychiatry
IS - 7
ER -