Comparison of the Effectiveness of Treadmill-Based Walking and Dual-Task Walking Training in Alzheimer's Disease

Launched by ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY - CERRAHPASA · Dec 9, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how effective a special type of exercise is for people with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers want to see if combining walking on a treadmill with tasks that challenge the brain—like solving simple puzzles—can help improve both movement and thinking skills more than just walking alone. They believe that this dual-task training could make daily activities easier for individuals facing the challenges of Alzheimer's.

To participate in this study, individuals must be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and be in the early or middle stages of the condition. They should be able to walk a certain distance and be receiving medication for Alzheimer's. However, those with other types of dementia, certain medical conditions that affect walking, or who have participated in exercise programs recently may not qualify. Participants can expect to be involved in treadmill exercises designed to help them improve their walking and thinking abilities, all while being supported by the research team.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease according to the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria by a neurologist,
• • 2. In the early or middle stages of the disease according to the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR),
• • 3. Receiving medical treatment for Alzheimer's disease (e.g., cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine) for at least the past month,
• • 4. Able to walk at least 400 meters in the 6-Minute Walk Test, indicating functional mobility,
• • 5. Able to read and understand instructions given in Turkish.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Having Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, or other types of dementia
• • 2. Participating in a structured exercise program within the 6 months prior to starting the study
• • 3. Having pulmonary, neurological, musculoskeletal, or rheumatological diseases that hinder walking
• • 4. Having an unstable medical condition (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension, deep vein thrombosis, etc.)
• • 5. Having visual or auditory impairments that make communication difficult
• • 6. Having behavioral problems that make participation in exercise difficult