Physical exercise is effective for neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review

ABSTRACT

Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms are disorders frequently seen in Alzheimer's disease. These symptoms contribute to reduction of brain reserve capacity and, in addition, they present unfavorable implications, such as: poor prognosis for the disease, increased functional decline, increased burden on the caregiver and institutionalization. This scenario makes neuropsychiatric symptoms one of the biggest problems in Alzheimer's disease, and gives rise to a need for treatments focused on improving these symptoms. Sow progress in drug trials has led to interest in exploring non-pharmacological measures for improving the neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, such as physical exercise. Objective: To ascertain the effect of exercise on the neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and its implications. Methods: This was a systematic review of effective longitudinal research, conducted by searching for articles in the PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL and Scopus electronic databases, from 2009 to 2019. Studies in which the sample consisted of elderly people aged 65 years old or over with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease were included. Initially 334 articles were identified. After exclusions, 21 articles remained to be read in full. From these, five articles fitted the eligibility criteria, and a further two articles were added through manual searches in the references of the articles found. Results: Out of the seven articles analyzed in this review, five studies revealed that physical exercise had a positive effect on the neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Conclusion: This systematic review indicated that physical exercise is a favorable non-pharmacological means for attenuating the neuropsychiatric symptoms of elderly people with Alzheimer's disease, with special attention to aerobic exercises.

RESUMO

Introdução: Sintomas neuropsiquiátricos são desordens frequentemente observadas na Doença de Alzheimer, os quais contribuem para a diminuição da capacidade de reserva cerebral e ocasiona implicações ruins, como mau prognóstico da doença, aumento do declínio funcional, aumento da sobrecarga do cuidador e institucionalização. Esse cenário faz com que os sintomas neuropsiquiátricos se tornem um dos maiores problemas da Doença de Alzheimer, incitando, assim, o interesse em explorar medidas não-farmacológicas nos sintomas neuropsiquiátricos na Doença de Alzheimer, como o exercício físico. Objetivo: Verificar o efeito do exercício físico em sintomas neuropsiquiátricos da Doença de Alzheimer e suas implicações. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática com pesquisas longitudinais efetivadas por meio da busca de artigos nas bases de dados eletrônicas: PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL e Scopus, de 2009 a 2019. Foram incluídos estudos cuja amostra foi constituída por idosos com diagnóstico de Doença de Alzheimer com idade igual ou acima de 65 anos. Inicialmente, foram identificados 334 artigos; após as exclusões, restaram 21 artigos para leitura na íntegra. Destes, cinco artigos se enquadraram nos critérios de elegibilidade, assim como dois artigos adicionados por meio de busca manual nas referências dos artigos encontrados. Resultados: Dos sete artigos analisados na presente revisão, cinco estudos revelaram um efeito positivo do exercício físico em sintomas neuropsiquiátricos na Doença de Alzheimer. Conclusão: Esta revisão sistemática indica que o exercício físico é um meio não-farmacológico favorável à atenuação dos sintomas neuropsiquiátricos de idosos com Doença de Alzheimer, com especial atenção na modalidade aeróbia.

Keywords:

Exercise - Alzheimer Disease - Behavioral Symptoms

Palavras-chave:

Exercício Físico - Doença de Alzheimer - Sintomas Comportamentais

Authors’ contributions:

The study was developed by DCBM, FGMC and FDGS. Searches, selection of articles and review of eligibility were carried out by DCBM and DRF. Data extraction and analysis were conducted by DCBM, DRF. Critical evaluation of the results was performed by DCBM, DRF, KF and SSH. The article was written by DCBM. Critical review of the article was done by SSH, FGMC and FDGS.

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 17. Juni 2020

Angenommen: 03. August 2020

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
07. Juni 2023

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