Walking exercise and improved neuropsychological functioning in elderly patients with cardiac disease
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1Second Department of Physiology, St Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
Objectives:
The present study examines the effects of exercise by walking on demented elderly patients with cardiac diseases.
Design:
Walking exercise, mental activity and brain atrophy were assessed by using the number of steps. Hasegawa's dementia score and computed tomography, respectively.
Setting/Subjects:
Forty-six elderly patients with cardiac disease who were living in a metropolitan city.
Interventions:
The Hasegawa dementia score was determined for each patient. The memory scores were used to divide the patients into four groups: normal, > 30.0; subnormal, 30.0 approximately 22.0; predementia, 21.5 approximately 10.5; and dementia, < 10.0. The walking exercises were performed every day. We also studied the ratio of the fullness of the brain (S1) to head size (S), represented as a percentage (S1/S x 100). We screened our patients for depression by means of a self-rating depression test.
Main Outcome Measures:
Walking exercise and improved mental activities.
Results:
The mean numbers of the steps per day for the groups were 3386 +/- 676 (normal), 1008 +/- 193 (subnormal), 1597 +/- 661 (pre-dementia) and almost no walking (dementia). The mean values of the S1/S ratio for the first three groups were as follows: normal, 84.8 +/- 3.2; subnormal, 79.2 +/- 4.3; and predementia, 76.8 +/- 4.9. Only one patient was positive with regard to the depression test.
Conclusions:
The mental activity of elderly cardiac patients with dementia and/or brain atrophy improved with exercise from walking.
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