The researchers studied the effects of exercise on a range of factors related to Alzheimer's disease. The primary outcome measure was change from baseline to 16 weeks in cognitive performance estimated by Symbol-Digit Modalities test (SDMT). Secondary outcomes were neuropsychiatric and depressive symptoms, activities of daily living, quality of life and other cognitive measures. No significant difference was found between the intervention and control group on the primary outcome, but there was a significant difference in neuropsychiatric symptoms in favor of the intervention group (p=0.002).

At AAIC 2015, the researchers reported that:


People who participated in the exercise program had far fewer neuropsychiatric symptoms (such as anxiety, irritability, and depression). Those in the control group had deteriorated on measures of psychiatric symptoms, while the intervention group improved slightly. This lead to a statistically significant difference between the two groups.
People in a subgroup of the exercise group who attended more than 80% of the classes and exercised vigorously (raising their heart rate to more than 70% of their maximal rate) had statistically significant (p=0.03) improvements on mental speed and attention, as measured by the SDMT.
In addition, people who participated in the exercise program improved in physical fitness, physical function, dual-task performance and exercise self-efficacy.
"Symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, and depression that often occur in Alzheimer's disease are the cause of great distress in both caregivers and people with the disease," Hasselbalch said. "While our results need to be verified in larger and more diverse groups, the positive effects of exercise on these symptoms that we saw in our study may prove to be an effective complement or combination with antidementia drugs. This calls for further study of multimodal treatment strategies, including lifestyle and drug therapies."

The Danish ADEX study was a collaboration between the DDRC, eight memory clinics in Denmark, and the Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Unit, Bispebjerg & Frederiksberg Hospitals, University of Copenhagen.

Aerobic Exercise Reduces Tau Protein in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment
One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's is a brain lesion known as a tau tangle. Normally, tau functions to stabilize the structure of cells in the brain. When is becomes abnormal, tau initiates a variety of biological changes that can result in brain cells dying. Higher levels of tau in the brain are associated with faster rates of decline to Alzheimer's dementia. Therapies to prevent cognitive decline and dementia are now beginning to focus on reducing tau.

More HCB News