Correlation between cognitive functions, balance and risk of fall in elderly with Alzheimer’s dementia

The Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) represents a clinical condition inherent to many chronic and neurodegenerative diseases that are usually related to a decline in the cognitive and physical functions. The objective of this research was to verify the correlation between cognitive functions, balance and risk of fall in elderly with AD when submitted to a systemized physical activity program. The sample consisted of 16 elderly divided in two groups: the Intervention Group (IG) n=9 77.7±7.5 years and the Control Group (CG) n=7 84.4 ± 6.1 years. Both groups were submitted to the tests: Mini Exam of the Mental State (MEEM); Berg’s Balance Functional Scale (EEFB); Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and the Agility and Dynamic Balance from AAHPERD (AGILEQ). The IG was submitted to a systemized physical activity program during six months, three times a week in non consecutive days, the CG did not participate of the physical activity program, both groups had its pharmacological assistance maintained. The Spearman correlation was used to verify possible correlations between the analyzed variables, with a level of significance of 5%. The analysis pointed to a high correlation (r=0.85) between the cognitive functions and the balance at the CG, shown by the MEEM and the AGILEQ tests. Even with no he statistically significant evidences, we could notice that there was a moderate correlation between MEEM and TUG to the CG. The analysis of the IG did not show us a significant correlation between the analyzed variables. The physical activity program seems contribute with reduction of decline cognitive function and balance of elderly with AD, so may be an important non pharmacology approach of maintenance elderly with this disease front the progression of dementia

Apatia, funções cognitivas e funcionalidade motora em idosos com doença de Alzheimer

The aims of this study were to characterize the presence of apathy in patients with AD, determine the relationship between apathy, motor function and cognitive function, and to verify differences among patients stratified by level of apathy in relation to cognitive and motor abilities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 37 patients with AD. The following tests were used: MoCA, the Frontal Assessment Battery, Verbal Fluency, Clock Drawing Test, Andreotti & Okuma Battery Tests, Sit and Reach, Resistance of Upper Limbs - AAHPERD Battery Test, Sit and Lift Chair and the Apathy domain of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. After verifying the normality of the data distribution, comparisons were made using Student's t-test and the U Mann Whitney test; relationships were also assessed using Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients. All analyses were considered to be statistically significant at a p-value of 0.05. Results: 46% of participants in this study showed mild symptoms of apathy. Significant and weak associations were found (p=0.04) between apathy and the attention domain on the MoCA and between apathy and the Walk Test. Analysis of differences in cognitive and motor functions according to participants' level of apathy revealed no significant differences for any of the variables. Conclusion: Apathy was reflected in attention and the Walk Test, suggesting these variables may be related to cognitive and functional decline in AD patients

Apathy, cognitive function and motor function in Alzheimer's disease

Abstract The aims of this study were to characterize the presence of apathy in patients with AD, determine the relationship between apathy, motor function and cognitive function, and to verify differences among patients stratified by level of apathy in relation to cognitive and motor abilities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 37 patients with AD. The following tests were used: MoCA, the Frontal Assessment Battery, Verbal Fluency, Clock Drawing Test, Andreotti & Okuma Battery Tests, Sit and Reach, Resistance of Upper Limbs - AAHPERD Battery Test, Sit and Lift Chair and the Apathy domain of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. After verifying the normality of the data distribution, comparisons were made using Student's t-test and the U Mann Whitney test; relationships were also assessed using Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients. All analyses were considered to be statistically significant at a p-value of 0.05. Results: 46% of participants in this study showed mild symptoms of apathy. Significant and weak associations were found (p=0.04) between apathy and the attention domain on the MoCA and between apathy and the Walk Test. Analysis of differences in cognitive and motor functions according to participants' level of apathy revealed no significant differences for any of the variables. Conclusion: Apathy was reflected in attention and the Walk Test, suggesting these variables may be related to cognitive and functional decline in AD patients

Resistance Training, Lipid Profile, and Homocysteine in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

Background: The aims of this study were to verify the relation of the level of physical activity with the lipid profile and the homocysteine and to investigate the effects of resistance training on the concentrations of metabolic variables of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Methods: Initially, the sample consisted of 37 community-dwelling patients with Alzheimer's disease. Eventually, only 30 patients participated in the intervention protocols offered, and they were divided into two groups: a training group with 14 patients and a social interaction group with 16 patients. All patients were evaluated using several instruments. We also analyzed the levels of serum homocysteine and lipid profiles. Results: There were no significant relations between level of physical activity, lipid profile, and homocysteine. The training group exhibited reduced total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), as well as increased concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). However, the social interaction group exhibited decreased total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol. There were no significant differences in the homocysteine concentrations for the two groups. Conclusion: No relationships were found between physical activity and metabolic variables. For both groups, changes were observed in the concentrations of total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol

Depressive symptoms and level of physical activity in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of depressive symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease, to assess whether there was an association between physical activity level and depressive symptoms in this population, and to assess whether more active patients had lower rates of depressive symptoms when compared with less active patients. Methods: The study included 37 patients with Alzheimer's disease and used the following instruments: the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia and the Baecke Questionnaire Modified for the Elderly. The ShapiroWilk test was used to determine whether the data were normally distributed. The Spearman correlation test and the MannWhitney U-test was used. P-values less than 5% were considered statistically significant. Results and discussion: The prevalence of depressive symptoms in the sample was 35.13%. The Spearman correlation test verified the relationship between level of physical activity and depressive symptoms (rho = -0,4), and between the sports activities domain and depressive symptoms (rho = -0,4). Patients who were more active had lower depressive symptoms. Conclusions: The prevalence of depressive symptoms in the sample was 35.13%. Patients who were more active had lower rates of depressive symptoms. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2012; : .Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

The effect of a multicomponent exercise protocol (VIVIFRAIL (c)) on inflammatory profile and physical performance of older adults with different frailty status: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: To investigate whether an exercise intervention using the VIVIFRAIL (c) protocol has benefits for inflammatory and functional parameters in different frailty status. Methods/design: This is a randomized clinical trial in an outpatient geriatrics clinic including older adults >= 60 years. For each frailty state (frail, pre-frail and robust), forty-four volunteers will be randomly allocated to the control group (n = 22) and the intervention group (n = 22) for 12 weeks. In the control group, participants will have meetings of health education while those in the intervention group will be part of a multicomponent exercise program (VIVIFRAIL (c)) performed five times a week (two times supervised and 3 times of home-based exercises). The primary outcome is a change in the inflammatory profile (a reduction in inflammatory interleukins [IL-6, TNF- alpha, IL1beta, IL-17, IL-22, CXCL-8, and IL-27] or an increase in anti-inflammatory mediators [IL-10, IL1RA, IL-4]). Secondary outcomes are change in physical performance using the Short Physical Performance Battery, handgrip strength, fatigue, gait speed, dual-task gait speed, depressive symptoms, FRAIL-BR and SARC-F scores, and quality of life at the 12-week period of intervention and after 3 months of follow-up. Discussion: We expect a reduction in inflammatory interleukins or an increase in anti-inflammatory mediators in those who performed the VIVIFRAIL (c) protocol. The results of the study will imply in a better knowledge about the effect of a low-cost intervention that could be easily replicated in outpatient care for the prevention and treatment of frailty, especially regarding the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory pathways involved in its pathophysiology. Trial registration: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (RBR-9n5jbw; 01/24/2020). Registred January 2020. http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-9n5jbw/