Exercise may Improve Cognitive Skills in Dementia Patients

Staying active is an important part of every day life, and that's especially true as individuals reach old age.

In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that older adults receive 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (i.e., brisk walking) every week, as well as muscle strengthening activities on two or more days a week that work a major muscle group.

For those beginning the early stages of dementia, exercise will not only be important for the obvious physical reasons--but it also helps slow the progression of the disease and improve overall cognitive function, according to a recent study.

The Cochrane Collaboration, an international not-for-profit organization that reviews various health care effects, carried out a systemic review of eight exercise trials involving more than 300 patients living at home or in care.

Though findings showed that exercise did little for the patients moods, it did help them carry out daily activities more easily and improve cognitive function.

At this time, researchers are uncertain of a clear connection between exercise and definite cognitive improvement, but they believe the findings are a good start for more research.

"In our previous review, we were unable to draw any conclusions about the effectiveness of exercise in older people with dementia, due to a shortage of appropriate trials, said researcher, Dorothy Forbes, an Associate Professor of Nursing who works at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta. "Following this new review, we are now able to conclude that there is promising evidence for exercise programs improving cognition and the ability to carry out daily activities. However, we do still need to be cautious about how we interpret these findings."

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