title: Effects of a long-term aerobic exercise intervention on institutionalized patients with dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Long-term interventions aimed at analyzing the impact of physical exercise on important health markers in institutionalized individuals with dementia are relatively scarce. This longitudinal study intends to identify the effects of a physical exercise program on cognitive decline, memory, depression, functional dependence and neuropsychiatric disturbances in institutionalized individuals with dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Homecare residents with dementia were assigned to an exercise (EG) or to a control group (CG). Participants in the EG cycled for at least 15min daily during 15 months, while those in the CG performed alternative sedentary recreational activities. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MEC), the Timed "Up & Go" Test, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, the Katz Index, the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia and the Fuld Object Memory Evaluation were administered before and after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-three individuals in the CG and 51 individuals in the EG completed the intervention. A statistically significant decline in cognitive function was observed in individuals included in the CG (p=0.015), while a slight improvement was observed in those included in the EG. Significant improvement was observed in the neuropsychiatric symptoms (p=0.020), memory function (p=0.028) and functional mobility (p=0.043) among those who exercised. Exercise seemed to have a greater effect in those suffering from severe cognitive impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence that aerobic physical exercise has a significant impact on improving cognitive functioning, behavior, and functional mobility in institutionalized individuals with dementia.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education and Sport Science, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain. Electronic address: chemacc@uvigo.es.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cancela
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education and Sport Science, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ayán
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education and Sport Science, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, "Complejo Hospitalario Pontevedra-Salnés", Pontevedra, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seijo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D003863:Depression; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
keywords: Activities of daily living; Behavior; Dementia; Physical exercise