title: Long-term effects of a 12 weeks high-intensity functional exercise program on physical function and mental health in nursing home residents with dementia: a single blinded randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research indicates that exercise can have a positive effect on both physical and mental health in nursing home patients with dementia, however the lasting effect is rarely studied. In a previously published article we investigated the immediate effect of a 12 weeks functional exercise program on physical function and mental health in nursing home residents with dementia. In this paper we studied the long-term effect of this exercise program. We explored the differences between the exercise and control group from baseline to 6 months follow-up and during the detraining period from month 3 to 6.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted and a total of 170 nursing home residents with dementia were included. The participants were randomly allocated to an intervention (n = 87) or a control group (n = 83). The intervention consisted of intensive strengthening and balance exercises in small groups twice a week for 12 weeks. The control condition was leisure activities. Thirty participants were lost between baseline and six-month follow-up. Linear mixed model analyses for repeated measurements were used to investigate the effect of exercise after detraining period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The exercise group improved their scores on Berg Balance Scale from baseline to 6 months follow-up by 2.7 points in average. The control group deteriorated in the same period and the difference between groups was statistically significant (p = 0.031). The exercise group also scored better on NPI agitation sub-score after 6 months (p = 0.045).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate long-time positive effects of a high intensity functional exercise program on balance and indicate a positive effect on agitation, after an intervention period of 12 weeks followed by a detraining period of 12 weeks. Identifier at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02262104.
authors.affiliation: Department of physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, PO Box 4 St Olavs plass, 0130, Oslo, Norway. elisabeth-wiken.telenius@hioa.no.
authors.forename: Elisabeth Wiken
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Telenius
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre of Aging and Health, Department of Psychiatry, Vestfold Health Trust, Tønsberg and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Knut.engedal@aldringoghelse.no.
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Engedal
authors.affiliation: Department of physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, PO Box 4 St Olavs plass, 0130, Oslo, Norway. Astrid.bergland@hioa.no.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergland
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013995:Time