Use of Physical and Intellectual Activities and Socialization in the Management of Cognitive Decline of Aging and in Dementia: A Review

Table 1

Summary of randomized controlled trials of physical exercise regimes in AD patients.

Study	Length and frequency	Type of exercise	Sample	MMSE; (baseline mean)	Outcome measures	Major findings
Kemoun et al. [27]	15 wks; 1 h sessions 3x/wk	Aerobic, balance, and endurance	𝑛ex=16; 𝑛𝑐=15	12.6	Walking speed, stride length, double limb support time, and ERFC	Higher ERFC and walking parameter scores in exercise group; positive correlation between walking parameters and ERFC scores
Miu et al. [28]	3 mos; ~1 h sessions 2x/wk	Aerobic, flexibility	𝑛ex=36; 𝑛𝑐=49	20 (median)	SF-12, 6 min walk, functional reach, BBS, MMSE, ADAS-Cog, and CSDD	Improvement in walking and functional reach in exercise group
Roach et al. [29]	16 wks; 15–30 min sessions 5x/wk	Strength, flexibility, endurance, and balance	𝑛ex=28; 𝑛soc=25; 𝑛walk=29	10.7	ACIF, 6 min walk, and MMSE	Improved transfer in exercise group
Rolland et al. [30]	1 yr; 1 h session 2x/wk	Aerobic, strength, flexibility, and balance	𝑛ex=67; 𝑛𝑐=67	8.8	Katz Index of ADLs, walking speed, get-up-and-go, one-leg balance, MNA, NPI, and MADRS	Less decline in overall ADLs in exercise group
Steinberg et al. [31]	12 wks; ~3x/wk	Aerobic, strength, balance, and flexibility	𝑛ex=14; 𝑛𝑐=13	20.1	YPAS, 8-ft walk, JTT, sit-to-stand, MMSE, BNT, HVLT, ADQRL, NPI, CSDD, and SCB	Improved performance in JTT and sit-to-stand, increased depression, and decreased ADQRL in exercise group
Venturelli et al. [32]	24 wks; 30 min sessions 4x/wk	Mobility, aerobic	𝑛ex=12; 𝑛𝑐=12	13	6 min walk, Barthel Index of ADLs, and MMSE	Improvements in walking and ADLs, slower decline in MMSE in exercise group
Vreugdenhil et al. [33]	4 mos; >30 mins daily	Strength, balance, and aerobic	𝑛ex=20; 𝑛𝑐=20	22.9	ADAS-Cog, MMSE, functional reach, Timed Up and Go, sit-to-stand, Barthel Index of ADLs, GDS, CIBIC-plus, and Zarit Burden Interview	Improved scores on ADAS-Cog, MMSE, CIBIC-plus, functional reach, Timed Up and Go, sit-to-stand, and ADLs in exercise group
Ya^‵güez et; al. [34]	6 wks; 1.5 h sessions 1x/wk	Flexibility, eye-hand coordination	𝑛ex=15; 𝑛𝑐=12	22.1	CANTAB-Expedio	Improvements in attention, visual memory recognition, and working memory in exercise group

𝑛_ex,𝑛_𝑐,𝑛_soc,𝑛_walk: number of participants in exercise program, control group, social conversation group, and walking group, respectively. ACIF: Acute Care Index of Function, ADAS-Cog: Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale, ADL: activities of daily living, ADQRL: Alzheimer’s Disease Quality Related Life Scale, BBS: Berg Balance Scale, BNT: Boston Naming Test, CANTAB-Expedio: The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, CIBIC-plus: Clinician’s Interview-Based Impression of Change Plus Caregiver Input, CSDD: Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, ERFC: Rapid Evaluation of Cognitive Function, GDS: Geriatric Depression dcale, HDS: Hamilton Depression Scale, HVLT: Hopkins Verbal Learning Test, JTT: Jebsen Total Time, MADRS: Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, MMSE: Mini-Mental State Examination, MNA: Mini-Nutritional Assessment, NPI: Neuropsychiatric Inventory, SCB: Screen for Caregiver Burden, SF-12: SF-12 Quality of Life Questionnaire, SF-36: Short-Form Health Survey, SIP: Sickness Impact Profile, and YPAS: Yale Physical Activity Survey.