Physical activity benefits for Alzheimer's disease patients (A Review)

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic and degenerative disease which is the main cause for dementia in older adults. It is well known that exercise can reduce the risk level for vascular risk factors, heart diseases (Blair et al., 1996), atherosclerosis (Lakka et al., 2001), stroke (Kurl et al., 2001) and diabetes (Seals et al., 1984; Houmard et al., 1996), diseases that can increase the risk for dementia and AD (Gustafson et al., 2003). Main objective of this study was to review the latest literature recomendations regarding the most appropriate exercise testing, programming and types of physical activity that Alzheimer's disease patients should practice. The search has been made mainly, focusing in PubMed/MEDLINE, for randomized controlled trial studies which used PA intervention as a weapon for delaying or treating symtoms of AD patients. There are clear evidences which shows that AD patients can benefit from all types of occupational PA and have a positive effect on their psycho-social and cognitive functioning. AD patients who engage in PA, also have positive effect in motor abilities, activities of daily life and makes them more independent from others. Further studies for AD patients involving a larger number of subjects and different types of individualised exercise interventional programs are necessary to be conducted.