Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2025

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide
Published on: November 29, 2024
Does Multicomponent Physical Exercise Training Work for Dementia? Exploring the Effects on Cognition,
Flávia Borges-Machado1,2,3, Laetitia Teixeira4,5,6, Joana Carvalho1,2,3
1CIAFEL - Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Objective:
To explore the effects of a multicomponent training (MT) physical exercise intervention in the cognitive function, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and quality of life of older adults with major neurocognitive disorder (NCD).
Methods:
Quasi-experimental controlled trial. Thirty-six individuals (25 female) were equally distributed to an exercise group (aged 74.33 ± 5.87 years) or a control group (aged 81.83 ± 6.18 years). The Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - Cognitive (ADAS-Cog), the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and the Quality of Life - Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD) tests were performed before and after the intervention.
Results:
There was no clear interaction effect factor of intervention on ADAS-Cog (B = 1.33, 95% CI: -2.61 - 5.28, P = .513), NPI (B = -8.35, 95% CI: -18.48 - 1.72, P = .115), and QoL-AD (B = 2.87, 95% CI: .01 - 5.73, P = .058).
Conclusions:
The 6-month MT physical exercise intervention did not present evidence of slowing down cognitive decline neither improving neuropsychiatric symptomatology, and quality of life of older adults with major NCD. Future studies with larger samples are needed to better understand the impact of physical exercise interventions using MT methodology on specific cognitive abilities, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and quality of life domains.
Related Concept Videos
Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
Parkinson's Disease: Overview

