Effects of weight training on cognitive functions in elderly with Alzheimer's disease.

Thays Martins Vital,Camila Vieira Ligo Teixeira,Florindo Stella,Angelica Miki Stein,Salma S Soleman Hernández,José Luiz Riani Costa,Renata Valle Pedroso,Marcelo Garuffi

doi:10.1590/s1980-57642012dn06040009

Abstract

Deterioration in cognitive functions is characteristic in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may be associated with decline in daily living activities with consequent reduced quality of life.ObjectiveTo analyze weight training effects on cognitive functions in elderly with AD.Subjects34 elderly with AD were allocated into two groups: Training Group (TG) and Social Gathering Group (SGG).MethodsGlobal cognitive status was determined using the Mini-Mental State Exam. Specific cognitive functions were measured using the Brief Cognitive Battery, Clock Drawing Test and Verbal Fluency Test. The protocols were performed three times a week, one hour per session. The weight training protocol consisted of three sets of 20 repetitions, with two minutes of rest between sets and exercises. The activities proposed for the SGG were not systematized and aimed at promoting social interaction among patients. The statistical analyses were performed with the U Mann Whitney and Wilcoxon tests for group comparisons. All analyses were considered statistically significant at a p-value of 0.05.ResultsThere were no significant differences associated to the effects of the practice of weight training on cognition in AD patients.ConclusionIn this study, no improvement in cognitive functions was evident in elderly with AD who followed a low intensity resistance exercise protocol. Thus, future studies could evaluate the effect of more intense exercise programs.

Highlights

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by progressive and irreversible cognitive decline resulting from neuronal apoptosis, predominantly caused by excessive accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles and beta-amyloid brain plaques.[1,2,3,4]The key characteristic for clinical diagnosis of AD is memory impairment and at least one other disorder such as apraxia, agnosia
All participants in this study were part of the of Programa de Cinesioterapia Funcional e Cognitiva em idosos com doença de Alzheimer (PRO-CDA),[31] an extension project offered by the Department of Physical Education, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro campus
There were no significant differences between groups at pre and post experimental period and likewise no significant differences were found

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by progressive and irreversible cognitive decline resulting from neuronal apoptosis, predominantly caused by excessive accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles and beta-amyloid brain plaques.[1,2,3,4]. A characteristic of AD, are associated with impairment in instrumental and basic activities of daily living.[6,7] These modifications can affect the quality of life of patients and caregivers as well as increase the chance of early institutionalization of this patient group.[8,9,10,11]. Some studies have shown that physical activity in older adults with AD can contribute positively by attenuating decline in cognitive function.[12,13,14,15] The possible mechanisms of physical exercise in improving cognition include an increase in cerebral blood flow, generating a greater supply of oxygen and other energy substrates, changes in the synthesis and use of important neurotransmitters for brain activity and positive interference in brain angiogenesis, synaptogenesis and neurogenesis.[14,16,17,18,19]. Studies with cognitively preserved elderly have shown that weight training produces significant gains in cognitive functions.[27,28,29,30]

METHODS

RESULTS

DISCUSSION