The influence of Nordic walking on the general functioning and cognitive performance of patients with Alzheimer’s disease

Introduction
Most studies show that physical activity (PA) can inhibit the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This research aimed to investigate the effect of 3-month moderate PA on the general functioning and cognitive abilities of AD patients.

Material and methods
The study included 32 patients with mild or moderate AD who scored 11-23 points in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Half of the participants were qualified to perform the exercises; the other half constituted the control group. The recommended form of activity was Nordic walking, 30 minutes, 3 days a week, for 3 months, under the supervision of the patient’s carer. General functioning and the severity of cognitive deficits were assessed using the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale (MoCA) before and after the 3-month study.

Results
No improvement was observed in the overall functioning of the patients after 3 months of regular, moderate PA. Neither were there any differences in this respect between the active and inactive groups, both in patients with mild (MMSE 19-23) and moderate (MMSE 11-18) disease severity. Men showed a deterioration in overall functioning regardless of PA. No differences in cognitive functioning were observed between the active and inactive groups, the two genders or between mild (MMSE 19-23) and moderate (MMSE 11-18) subjects.

Conclusions
The 3-month, moderate, Nordic walking PA did not improve the overall general functioning or cognitive performance in patients with mild or moderate AD.