Ambulatory but sedentary: impact on cognition and the rest-activity rhythm in nursing home residents with dementia.
Physical activity has been positively associated with cognition and the rest-activity rhythm. In the present study, nursing staff classified ambulatory nursing home residents with moderate dementia either as active (n=42) or as sedentary (n=34). We assessed the rest-activity rhythm by means of actigraphy, and we administered neuropsychological tests to assess cognitive functioning. Compared with the group that was considered sedentary, the group that was considered active had a significantly better rest-activity rhythm, indicating agreement between nursing staff classifications and data gathered by the actigraph. Cognitive function was related neither to active-sedentary classification nor to actigraph measures. Similar ambulatory nursing home residents with dementia may show considerable differences in their level of daily physical activity and in their rest-activity rhythm, but the precise relationship among all variables requires further investigation.
Eggermont
Laura H P
LH
Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, VU University, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. lhp.eggermont@psy.vu.nl
Scherder
Erik J A
EJ
D000204:Activity Cycles; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D009735:Nursing Homes