Can Physical Activity Improve How Alzheimer Patients Function?

A new study finds that understanding the physical activity patterns of Alzheimer patients can aid the design of interventions for those in the early stages of the disease.

Researchers from the University of Kansas and the National Institute on Aging explored the differences in daily physical activity profiles, independent of the effects of noncognitive factors including physical function and age, among individuals with mild Alzheimer disease (AD), compared with controls. The investigators recruited 92 patients with mild AD and controls from the University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Center Registry. Participants wore an activity monitor for 7 days and provided objective physical function (VO₂max) and mobility data.
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Using multivariate linear regression, the authors assessed whether individuals with mild AD had different daily average and diurnal physical activity patterns compared with controls, independent of noncognitive factors that may affect physical activity, including physical function and mobility.

Overall, the researchers found that mild AD was associated with less moderate-intensity physical activity, lower peak activity, and lower physical activity complexity, particularly during the morning. In addition, mild AD was not associated with greater sedentary activity or less lower-intensity physical activity across the day after adjusting for noncognitive covariates. These findings, the authors note, suggest that factors independent of physical capacity and mobility may drive declines in moderate-intensity physical activity, and not lower-intensity or sedentary activity, during the early stage of AD.

"These findings should signify to [primary care] practitioners or loved ones who help care for individuals with Alzheimer [disease] that time of day is important in the management of symptoms," said Amber Watts, PhD, an assistant professor of clinical psychology at the University of Kansas, and coauthor of the study.

"People with Alzheimer in our study were much less active in the morning, so attempts to get them active at that time of day may be beneficial for health reasons as well as better regulating sleep and wake cycles," added Watts, who is also director of the BRANCH Lab at the University of Kansas. "Participants with Alzheimer also display symptoms called 'sundowning,' indicating a worsening of symptoms in the evenings. Getting more exercise throughout the day could help improve some of these evening symptoms."

—Mark McGraw

Reference:
Varma VR, Watts A. Daily physical activity patterns during the early stage of Alzheimer's disease. [published online October 4, 2016]. J Alzheimers Dis. doi:10.3233/JAD-160582