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Eight-week exercise program improved the quality of life of Alzheimer’s patients through functional, cognitive, and biochemical parameters

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Abstract

Objective

In this study, it was aimed to examine the effect of 8-week exercise in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) aged 65 and over through functional, cognitive, and biochemical parameters and irisin metabolism.

Methods

Two groups consisting of healthy individuals and diagnosed with Alzheimer’s over the age of 65 were followed up with a combined exercise program of 45–60 min, 3 days a week, for 8 weeks. At the end of the exercise period, various cognitive and functional tests were performed on the participants, and blood samples were taken for biochemical parameters and irisin level measurements.

Results

In functional evaluations, while there was no difference in pre-exercise measurements of timed performance and quadriceps femoris muscle strength, there was a difference between groups in all other measurements (p < 0.05). Nutritional status increased significantly after exercise in AD individuals. Although there was an increase in mental score values after exercise, it was not statistically significant. Similar to the elderly with Alzheimer’s, the improvements in functional tests in the healthy also led to improvements in activities of daily living and auxiliary activities of daily living. The exercise training did not have an effect on the lipid profile in AD patients, but showed an effect on glycemia and irisin levels (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Changes in functional, cognitive, and biochemical parameters after the exercise program improved quality of life in Alzheimer’s patients.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This study was supported by Eskişehir Osmangazi University Scientific Research Projects Commission (Project No.: 2018–2364).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Kütahya Health Sciences University, Kütahya, Turkey

    Fatih Kar

  2. Elderly Care Programme, Vocational School of Health Services, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey

    Yasemin Kavlak & Selda Yıldız

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey

    Pınar Yıldız & Ahmet Musmul

  4. Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey

    Sema Uslu

Authors
  1. Fatih Kar
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  2. Yasemin Kavlak
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  4. Pınar Yıldız
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fatih Kar.

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Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by Eskisehir Osmangazi University Clinical Research Committee with the decision dated 24.12.2018 and numbered 2018/57. Informed consents were obtained from all patients before treatment.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Kar, F., Kavlak, Y., Yıldız, S. et al. Eight-week exercise program improved the quality of life of Alzheimer’s patients through functional, cognitive, and biochemical parameters. Ir J Med Sci 192, 655–663 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-03029-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-03029-3

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