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A randomised controlled trial was undertaken to measure effects of exercise on:1. Progression of cognitive symptoms related to dementia using the Clock-Drawing Test (Shulman et al. 1993); and2. Disability using the Revised Elderly Persons Disabilities Scale (REPDS; Fleming and Bowles 1993).Data was analysed from 75 nursing home residents with dementia who were randomly assigned to one experimental group and two control groups. Group 1 (control) received no intervention. Group 2 (control) received a social visit equivalent in duration and frequency as those undertaking the exercise program in the experimental group, Group 3. A specifically designed, frail aged appropriate, twelve-week exercise program was undertaken by the those in the experimental group three times per week. Each session lasted for 30 minutes.Findings from the:1. Clock-drawing test showed that exercise may slow the rate of progression of the cognitive symptoms related to dementia; and2. REPDS showed that exercise slowed and reversed disability in some of the activities of daily living.
Stevens et al. (Wed,) studied this question.