Abstract
Little research exists concerning the cognitive effects of exercise on elders with Alzheimer's dementia (AD), and none concerning late-stage AD. This study provides an initial investigation of the possible cognitive effects of a specialized exercise program for patients with late-stage AD. In a pretest/posttest design, patients participated in 20-minute movement groups. Results indicated a statistically significant decrease in patients' aphasia and/or agnosia following the program. This study is the first to indicate that movement has the ability to immediately affect the memory recall of patients with late-stage AD. These techniques may be used by caregivers seeking increased lucidity during interactions.