We recently completed another round of the increasingly popular volunteer orientation course for Physiopedia. As part of the final task, the members were asked to write an original work to share with the profession. The contributions were of the highest quality. Below is the great work of Tolulope Adeniji .
The worldwide prevalence rate of dementia patients is expected to increase to 115 million by 2050. Behavioral and cognitive problems are strongly interrelated and can lead to increased dependency and stress on the caregivers as well as a deterioration in physical functioning in people with dementia. Literature reviews that examine the effects of physical exercise on behavioral problems are limited. This systematic review aimed to determine the most beneficial type of exercise and the impact of the exercise on. different degrees of severity of cognitive impairments and specific cognitive functions in people with dementia.
46 randomized studies with a total of 5099 participants were included in this review. However, nine articles were excluded due to limited information. The ages ranged from 68 to 86 years and the severity varied from mild cognitive impairments to severe dementia.
The overall results of this review showed that exercise appears to improve cognitive functions in isolated areas of the brain, unlike previous reviews that indicated global improvement.
The following table shows the effect of movement on various cognitive functions;
The review also shows that exercise slows cognitive decline, but does not necessarily improve cognitive function. Moderate to high intensity aerobic exercise under supervision of at least 24 hours of total exercise time seems to have the most noticeable effects on cognitive functions.
Although this is the first systematic review to assess the impact of exercise on certain cognitive functions, further research is needed to assess the impact of exercise on different types of dementia and on more severe stages of dementia. Another area of investigation could be the lasting effect of exercise after weaning.
This systematic review is clinically relevant for physiotherapists because it indicates that people with severe cognitive impairments can also benefit from physical activity. It is therefore our responsibility as medical professionals to educate patients and nurses and to create exercise programs / courses for these people. Although exercise may not improve cognitive function, it effectively slows the decline in cognitive function. However, it is strongly recommended that you do these exercises under supervision.
