Walking exercise and improved neuropsychological functioning in elderly patients with cardiac disease.
OBJECTIVE
The present study examines the effects of exercise by walking on demented elderly patients with cardiac diseases.


METHODS
Walking exercise, mental activity and brain atrophy were assessed by using the number of steps. Hasegawa's dementia score and computed tomography, respectively.


METHODS
Forty-six elderly patients with cardiac disease who were living in a metropolitan city.


METHODS
The Hasegawa dementia score was determined for each patient. The memory scores were used to divide the patients into four groups: normal, > 30.0; subnormal, 30.0 approximately 22.0; predementia, 21.5 approximately 10.5; and dementia, < 10.0. The walking exercises were performed every day. We also studied the ratio of the fullness of the brain (S1) to head size (S), represented as a percentage (S1/S x 100). We screened our patients for depression by means of a self-rating depression test.


METHODS
Walking exercise and improved mental activities.


RESULTS
The mean numbers of the steps per day for the groups were 3386 +/- 676 (normal), 1008 +/- 193 (subnormal), 1597 +/- 661 (pre-dementia) and almost no walking (dementia). The mean values of the S1/S ratio for the first three groups were as follows: normal, 84.8 +/- 3.2; subnormal, 79.2 +/- 4.3; and predementia, 76.8 +/- 4.9. Only one patient was positive with regard to the depression test.


CONCLUSIONS
The mental activity of elderly cardiac patients with dementia and/or brain atrophy improved with exercise from walking.
Satoh
T
T
Second Department of Physiology, St Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
Sakurai
I
I
Miyagi
K
K
Hohshaku
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008606:Mental Processes; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013577:Syndrome; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016138:Walking