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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a very disabling disease. Pathologically, it is characterized by the presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain that results in neurodegeneration. Its clinical manifestations include progressive memory impairment, language decline and difficulty in carrying out activities of daily living (ADL). The disease is managed using interventions such as pharmacological interventions and aerobic exercise. Use of aerobic exercise has shown some promises in reducing the risk of developing AD, and improving cognitive function and the ability to carry out both basic and instrumental ADL. Although, the mechanisms through which aerobic exercise improves AD are poorly understood, improvement in vascular function, brain glucose metabolism and cardiorespiratory fitness, increase in antioxidant capacity and haemoglobin level, amelioration of immune-related and inflammatory responses, modulation of concentration of circulating Neurotrophins and peptides and decrease in concentration of tau protein and cortisol level among others seem to be the possible mechanisms. Therefore, understanding these mechanisms is important to help characterize the dose and the nature of the aerobic exercise to be given. In addition, they may also help in finding ways to optimize other interventions such as the pharmacological interventions. However, more quality studies are needed to verify the mechanisms. • Alzheimer's disease (AD) seriously affects cognitive and physical function. • A promising intervention in patients with AD is aerobic exercise. • The exercise modulates disease biomarkers, and improves brain glucose metabolism and vascular function. • It also increases antioxidant capacity and levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. • Modulation of those biomarkers helps to slow down progression of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To examine whether differences emerged when the Chinese version of the Movement-Specific Reinvestment Scale ( MSRS- C) was administered to community-dwelling older adults with instructions to respond in the context of 'general' movements, walking, using chopsticks or dressing. Furthermore, the difference between the six-point Likert scale and four-point Likert scale response formats of the MSRS- C was investigated. Methods The study was implemented in the community of Hong Kong with 52 older adults (mean age 77.4 years). Telephone interviews were carried out on two occasions for each participant. Participants provided a verbal response to each of 10 questions from the MSRS- C with different response formats (i.e., six-point or four-point Likert Scales) and different instructions in the response context (i.e. general, walking, using chopsticks, dressing). The sequence of response format and context was randomized for each participant. Results Older fallers scored significantly higher on the MSRS- C (general) with six-point or four-point response formats than non-fallers. The MSRS- C (general) and MSRS- C (walking) were not statistically different, and showed good discriminative power for previous older fall status (older fallers or older non-fallers). However, MSRS- C (chopsticks) and MSRS- C (dressing) failed to differentiate older fallers from older non-fallers. Conclusion Both the MSRS- C (general) and MSRS- C (walking) with a six-point or a four-point response format showed good discrimination of older fallers from non-fallers. Older adults might respond to the MSRS- C with respect to the most challenging movements (e.g. fall-related movements) in their daily living. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 1305-1311. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]