Exercise Calms Dementia Patients

A thirty-minute exercise session three times a week may help calm agitation and improve functioning of patients with severe dementia. This conclusion was made by a medical student at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri.

Edris Aman, who conducted the investigation, said that this study is unique because it involved people suffering from severe dementia who were living in the “special needs” units of two nursing homes. The 50 study participants, whose average age was 79, performed 15 minutes of aerobic exercise and 15 minutes of weight lifting three times a week.

“Before and after” tests revealed that patients were far less agitated after completing the 3-week exercise program. They also showed significant improvement in their functional status — specifically, the distance they could walk in six minutes.

The researcher believes that the results support the idea that exercise benefits all, even those who are suffering from severe dementia. The findings of the study may impact care and treatment programs for dementia patients. Read the full article to find out more about how Amman conducted the study.

What are your thoughts on the types of exercise that may benefit the elderly, specifically those who are already suffering from severe dementia? Let us know by leaving a comment below.