Randomized trial demonstrates progressive resistance training reduces depressive symptoms in subcortical vascular cognitive impairment, highlighting exercise as a viable non-drug therapy.
Key Points
To evaluate the effects of a 12-month progressive resistance training program on depressive symptoms in older adults with subcortical vascular cognitive impairment.
Single-site, 12-month parallel-group secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial (NCT02669394) enrolling 91 community-dwelling adults aged 55 years and older with subcortical vascular cognitive impairment.
Participants were randomly allocated to twice-weekly progressive resistance training using pressurized air machines and free weights (PRT, n=45) or a balance and tone control program of stretches and light exercises (BAT, n=46).
Depressive symptoms were measured at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10) and evaluated with intention-to-treat linear mixed models.
At 6 months, CESD-10 depressive symptom scores were significantly lower in the PRT group compared with BAT (estimated mean difference: -3.17; 95% CI, -6.12 to -0.22; p=0.036).
At 12 months, the reduction in depressive symptoms remained significantly greater in the PRT group compared with BAT (estimated mean difference: -4.25; 95% CI, -7.23 to -1.27; p=0.006).