Exercise interventions for adults with Alzheimer’s disease: a literature review

Background/objective Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive disease that destroys the neurons of the brain leading to memory loss and confusion. A systematic review of randomized control trials and quasi-experimental studies was conducted to answer the question “In adults with Alzheimer’s disease, how does exercise intervention compared to a sedentary lifestyle affect outlook on life?” Methods Search of the bibliographic databases PubMed and Cochrane Library were used to identify studies published between 2015-2020 that studied the impacts of exercise intervention on patients with Alzheimer’s disease. 471 total articles were originally identified, but only five directly addressed the research question. Results There are mixed results on the impacts of aerobic and postural exercises, with some improving quality of life and others having no impact on quality of life. Conclusion Exercise interventions, including aerobic and postural exercises, may improve quality of life among patients with Alzheimer’s disease