| Objective: To evaluate the effects of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on cognitive function, mental behavior symptoms and quality of life in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), and to provide reference for effective AD treatment. Methods: Forty-eight participants were randomly divided into aerobic exercise group (n=24) and control group (n=24). Patients in exercise group were given 40-min moderate intensity aerobic exercise training, 3 times a week for 3 months. Cognition function scale (Minimum Mental State Examination, Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive section, Wechsler Memory Scale, Wechsler digit span scale, Digital connection A, Digital connection B, Digital symbol scale), neuropsychological scale (Geriatric depression scale) and quality of life scale (Quality of Life Alzheimer's Disease, Functional Activities Questionnaire, Berg balance scale ) were performed at baseline and after 3 and 6 months. Results: The patients were followed up and trained according to the requirements. No significant differences were found in demography characteristics and cognition scores between the exercise group and the control group at baseline (P>0.05). The exercise group scored significantly higher in MMSE, the Wechsler logical memory story and Wechsler digit span test, while lower in ADAS-cog, Digital connection A, Digital connection B than in control group after 3-month aerobic training and 6-month follow-up (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in FAQ, Qol AD, Berg scores between exercise group and control group after 3-month aerobic training and 6-month follow-up (P>0.05). Conclusions: The aerobic exercise can improve the cognitive function, especially memory function and mental behavior symptoms in AD patients. |
