Predictors of short- and long-term adherence to a daily walking program in persons with Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To examine factors associated with adherence to a walking program in community-dwelling individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD).


METHODS
Data were analyzed for 66 participants with AD asked to walk 30 continuous minutes per day. Adherence data (number of days walked, minutes walked, days walked 30+ minutes) were obtained from daily logs. Predictor variables included age, spousal relationship, health limitations, depression, participant dementia severity and behavioral disturbance, and caregiver stress and dementia management style.


RESULTS
During week 1, participants significantly (P < .0001) increased number of days walked/week compared to baseline. However, walking frequency and duration declined over 6 months. Nonwalkers had higher behavioral disruption scores. Regression analyses indicated that participants who walked more were less depressed. Caregivers of walking participants tended to be spouses, and reported less stress.


CONCLUSIONS
Both participant and caregiver factors (participant behavioral disruption and depression; caregiver stress and spousal relationship) impacted whether community-dwelling individuals with AD adhered to a walking program.
McCurry
Susan M
SM
Department of Psychosocial and Community Health, University of Washington, Seattle, 98115, USA. smccurry@u.washington.edu
Pike
Kenneth C
KC
Logsdon
Rebecca G
RG
Vitiello
Michael V
MV
Larson
Eric B
EB
Teri
Linda
L
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology*