Exercise Works -- Alzheimer's in the Nursing Home Enviroment
Posted May 28 2009 11:35pm
I can attest, exercise makes a difference. My mother now has the tendency to sit around all day. On those days when I can get her to go to Gold's Gym with me she is a completely different person. The look on her face, from dull to smiling, is more than enough to tell me that exercise works to her benefit.
You should note. My mother suffers from Alzheimer's disease. She is 92 years old. And, I am talking about the effect of exercise in a single day.
Nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease who participate in a moderate exercise program have a significantly slower deterioration than those who receive routine medical care.
At the end of the 12 month study, the average activities-of-daily-living score was significantly more improved in the exercise group than in the routine medical care group.
In addition, average walking speed improved significantly more in the exercise group than in the routine medical care group at 6 months and 12 months.
The patients were 83 years old on average and assigned to one of two groups. One group was assigned to the exercise program, which focused on walking, strength, balance and flexibility training. The other group received routine medical care for 12 months.
Source -- Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Bob DeMarco is an Alzheimer's caregiver and editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one website on the Internet for insight into Alzheimer's disease. Bob taught at the University of Georgia, was an executive at Bear Stearns, the CEO of IP Group, and is a mentor. He has written more than 600 articles with more than 11,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.
You should note. My mother suffers from Alzheimer's disease. She is 92 years old. And, I am talking about the effect of exercise in a single day.
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