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Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent dementias in the elderly and is associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. AD is also accompanied by functional changes and psychiatric disorders in older adults with AD. In addition to drug treatment, non‐pharmacological interventions can contribute to attenuating cognitive and functional decline, improving well‐being and psychiatric symptoms. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of interventions with isolated physical activity program and multidisciplinary rehabilitation program (including physical activity sessions, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, art therapy, games, cognitive and computer stimulation) on physical capacities, neuromotor components and depressive symptoms in elderly with AD. Method: Third four elderly patients with previous diagnosis of AD were include in control group (CG = 8), intervention group with isolated physical activity (PAG = 12), and the multidisciplinary rehabilitation group (MG = 14). All participants underwent neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric evaluation, physical activity level questionnaire and functional tests (including muscular endurance, aerobic capacity, flexibility and agility/dynamic balance) at the beginning and the end of the study. The physical activity program included aerobic exercises, motor coordination, strength, flexibility, and cool down for 3 months, twice a week, with 75 min each session. The MG group participated in physical activity sessions, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, art therapy, games, cognitive and computer stimulation. The duration of these workshops was 60 to 90 min each (totaling 6 hours a day), 2 days a week, for 3 months. Result: There was a significant improvement in the physical capacities, neuromotor components, and total physical activity levels of the PAG and MG in relation to the CG. In addition, MG intervention was also able to reduce depressive symptoms in patients with AD. Conclusion: Interventions with isolated physical activity program and in a multidisciplinary team were effective for improvement of the physical capacities and neuromotor components of the elderly with AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most prevalent disease among all dementias, and is characterized by progressive deficits in cognitive function and activities of daily living.The aim of this study was compare effects of multimodal physical activity program in functional capacity, memory, and attention in elderly with and without AD. Method: Eighteen elderly with AD were ramdomized into the control (AD‐C) or multimodal physical activity program (AD‐T) groups. Also twenty without AD were divided in the control (NAD‐C) or physical activity program (NAD‐T) groups. All participants performed the international physical activity questionnaire, neuropsicological evaluation using Mini Mental State Examination, Syndrom Kurztest (SKT), clinical dementia rating. The functional fitness test was evaluated by the muscular resistance (30‐second chair stand and arm curl), aerobic capacity (2‐minute step in the place), lower and upper body flexbility (chair sit‐and‐reach, and back scratch tests) and agility/dynamic balance (8‐foot up and go). The shoulder and ankle amplitude were measured using a Fleximeter. The multimodal physical activity program included warm up, aerobic exercises, strength, flexibility, and cool down for 3 months, twice a week, with 75 min each session for NAD‐T and AD‐T groups. Result: The physical activity program significantly increased the leisure‐time physical activity level, upper body muscular strength, aerobic capacity, upper and lower body flexibility, shoulder and ankle extension range in the NAD‐T and AD‐T (P<0.05). Also increased agility/dinamic balance compared to the AD‐C group (P<0.05). Concerning the cognition, the multimodal training improved SKT‐memory in both groups NAD‐T and AD‐T (P<0.05). SKT‐atention improved in the NAD‐T group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The multimodal physical activity program was effective in increasing the level of leisure‐time physical activity, aerobic capacity, muscle strength, lower limb flexibility, shoulder extension, and memory, independent of the AD. Additionaly, the program attenuated the decline in agility/dinamic balance compared to the AD‐C group. Attentional function improved in the NAD‐T group. These benefits may contribute to a better performance in activities of daily living, reduction of falls and attenuation of the decline of cognitive functions in elderly people with and without AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]