Effects of a Sarcopenia-Focused Exercise Intervention on Depressive Symptoms and Quality of Life in Older Adults With Dementia

Purpose: To examine the effects of a 3-month, sarcopenia-focused exercise intervention on depressive symptoms and quality of life (QoL) among community-dwelling older adults with dementia. Method: A quasi-experimental pre–post design was conducted in Taiwan. Eighty participants were recruited; 77 completed posttests (intervention, n = 38; control, n = 39). The intervention group attended 50-minute supervised exercise sessions three times per week for 12 weeks, whereas the control group received usual care. Depressive symptoms and QoL were assessed at baseline and after 3 months using validated instruments. Results: Postintervention, the intervention group showed significantly higher QoL than the control group ( t = 3.63, p < .001). Within-group analyses revealed significant reductions in depressive symptoms ( t = 5.12, p < .001) and improvements in QoL ( t = 3.36, p = .002). Conclusion: Structured, nurse-led exercise interventions can enhance psychological well-being and QoL in older adults with dementia, supporting their integration into community-based dementia care.