Body & Brain Project: Effectiveness of a 6‐month multicomponent training on cognitive function, quality of life and functional capacity of older adults with dementia

Background Evidence is warranted to attest the therapeutic role of exercise as a non‐pharmacological adjuvant treatment for dementia. Multicomponent Training (MT) characterizes exercise sessions combining two or more physical fitness components (i.e. endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility), and it has been suggested as a feasible training modality for dementia patients. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of a MT intervention on cognitive function, quality of life and functional capacity of older adults diagnosed with dementia. Method This is a non‐randomized controlled trial comprising 41 participants (29 females), from hospitals, daycare centers and municipalities – and was conducted in 8 community‐based settings. Subjects were allocated in exercise group (EG; N: 22; 76.3 years ± 1.40; age range: 61‐90) and control group (CG; N:19; 82.6 years ± 1.27; age range: 73‐90). EG trained twice a week (50 min) for 6 months in a MT regime. CG had a monthly recreational session during the same period. Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale – Cognitive (ADAS‐Cog), Quality of Life – Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL‐AD), and Short Performance Physical Battery (SPPB) tests were applied before and after the 6‐months intervention period. Result Baseline medium score on Mini Mental State Examination was 21.1 (± 5.02) points. There was a significant group*time interaction on QoL‐AD total score (F (1,38) = 5.94, η 2 = 0.135, p < 0.02) and on SPPB total score (F (1,37) = 14,94, η 2 = 0.29, p < 0.001) favorable to EG. No significant group*time interaction was depicted in cognitive function (F (1,38) = 0.467, η 2 = 0.012, p = 0.499). When adjusting for age, EG group maintained ADAS‐Cog score through time, and CG showed an increased score from baseline (27.97 ± 2.89) to post‐intervention time (29.34 ± 3.45), representative of decreased cognitive performance. Conclusion Data suggest that a MT intervention may improve functional capacity in patients diagnosed with dementia. It may also positively influence quality of life, once CG experienced a significant decrease after 6 month, despite baseline differences between groups. Further research is necessary to confirm the MT effectiveness on preserving cognitive function. Supported by FCT: CIAFEL (FCT/UIDB/00617/2020), “Body and Brain” Project (POCI‐01‐0145‐FEDER‐031808), and PhD Grant (SFRH/BD/136635/2018); & IPDJ.