Effects of Exercise Interventions in Older Adults with Various Types of Dementia: Systematic Review

ABSTRACT

This comprehensive literature review analyzed relevant studies on the effects of exercise interventions for older adults with dementia. An extensive search of databases was conducted to identify relevant studies. Among the 64 reviewed studies, the highest number focused on Alzheimer’s disease, following by mixed dementia; none of the studies included older adults with Lewy body dementia or frontotemporal dementia. Methodological quality and risk of bias were evaluated based on Downs & Black’s Quality Index. A variety of exercise interventions have been shown to be beneficial for functional outcomes but there were mixed findings regarding the effects of exercise on cognitive function, behavioral and psychological symptoms, and overall quality of life. Not all high-frequency or longer-duration physical exercise interventions were associated with significant effects on cognitive function but positive outcomes of exercise intervention on cognitive ability were often accompanied by improvement in activities of daily living. More clinical trials are needed to determine how to motivate older adults with dementia to engage regularly in exercise and how group and individually tailored exercise programs may improve physical function and minimize behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with dementia.

KEYWORDS:

• Exercise
• physical activity
• alzheimer’s disease
• mixed dementia
• vascular dementia
• lewy body dementia
• frontotemporal dementia
• older adults
• systematic review

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website.