Exercise Slows Decline in Alzheimer’s Patients

A recent studied conducted by Dr. Yves Rolland of Hospital La Grave-Casselardit in Toulouse, France shows that nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s disease who participate in a moderate exercise program have a significantly slower deterioration than those who receive routine medical care.

Dr. Yves Rolland and colleagues studied the effects of a program of exercise for one hour twice weekly on activities of daily living, physical performance, nutritional status, behavioral disturbance and depression among 134 Alzheimer’s disease patients in nursing homes. The average age was 83yrs old.

At the end of the 12 months, the average activities-of-daily-living score was significantly more improved in the exercise group than in the routine medical care group, Rolland’s team reported.

Many nursing homes now have excersie programs for residents. Another added benefit for residents is the socialization. I find that residents of nursing homes, or specialized dementia/alzheimers communites benefit greatly from regulated excersise programs.