The Relationship Between Exercise Habit and Quality of Life in Mild to Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease Patients

Abstract

Objective: Despite its many physiological benefits, exercise in the elderly is a tool whose functionality and emotional effectiveness are controversial. In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between exercise habit and quality of life in mild-tomoderate Alzheimer’s disease. Material and Method: A total of 73 geriatric people with regular exercise habit (mean age; 68.03±8.98 year) and no exercise ( mean age; 69.22±8.25 year) participated in the study. Sociodemographic characteristics of the patients who had Standardized Mini Mental Tests during their clinical examinations were recorded. Quality of life was evaluated with the Alzheimer’s Disease Quality of Life Scale. The type and frequency of the exercises performed in the last 3 months were asked to the proxies of the patients. Results: Both groups with exercise habits and without exercise were similar in terms of age, gender, cognitive level, and duration of illness (p>0.05). Quality of life total score and quality of life reported by the patient and proxies were higher in the group with exercise habit (p <0.05). It was found that exercise type and frequency were not associated with the quality of life score in the group with exercise habit (p>0.05). Conclusion: The quality of life in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease patients with regular exercise habit is better than those who do not exercise, regardless of exercise type and frequency. It is recommended that any exercise should be made a regular habit in these patients.

Keywords

• Alzheimer’s disease
• exercise habit
• quality of life.

Hafif-Orta Evre Alzheimer Hastalarında Egzersiz Alışkanlığı ve Yaşam Kalitesi İlişkisi

Abstract

Amaç: Yaşlılarda egzersiz, birçok fizyolojik yararına rağmen, işlevsellik ve duygusal boyutlardaki etkinliği tartışmalı olan bir araçtır. Bu çalışma ile hafif-orta evre Alzheimer hastalarında egzersiz alışkanlığı ile yaşam kalitesi arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya, düzenli egzersiz alışkanlığı olan (ortalama yaş; 68,03±8,98 yıl) ve hiç egzersiz yapmayan (ortalama yaş; 69,22±8,25 yıl) toplam 73 yaşlı birey katıldı. Klinik muayeneleri sırasında hastaların sosyodemografik özellikleri kaydedildi ve Standardize Mini Mental Testleri yapıldı. Alzheimer Hastalığı Yaşam Kalitesi Ölçeği ile yaşam kalitesi değerlendirildi. Son 3 ay içerisinde yapılan egzersizlerin türü ve frekansı hasta yakınlarına soruldu. Bulgular: Egzersiz alışkanlığı olan ve egzersiz yapmayan gruplar, yaş, cinsiyet, kognitif düzey ve hastalık süresi açısından benzerdi (p>0,05). Yaşam kalitesi toplam puanı, hasta ve yakını tarafından bildirilen yaşam kalitesi puanı, egzersiz alışkanlığı olan grupta daha yüksekti (p<0,05). Egzersiz alışkanlığı olan grupta, egzersiz tipi ve frekansının yaşam kalitesi ile ilişkili olmadığı bulundu (p>0,05). Sonuç: Düzenli egzersiz alışkanlığı olan hafif-orta evre Alzheimer hastalarında yaşam kalitesi, egzersiz tipi ve frekansından bağımsız olarak egzersiz yapmayanlara göre daha iyidir. Bu hastalarda herhangi bir egzersizin düzenli bir alışkanlık haline getirilmesi önerilmektedir.

Keywords

• Alzheimer hastalığı
• egzersiz alışkanlığı
• yaşam kalitesi

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