Exercise may improve the cognitive functioning of older people with dementia, improving their ability to carry out everyday activities, new research indicates.

With people living longer today, dementia has become a major health concern. Over 35 million people are affected worldwide, including more than 40,000 people in Ireland.

Dementia can have a major impact on both memory and personality. It has previously been suggested that exercise may be useful in treating the condition, or slowing down its progression, by improving mental processes such as attention and memory, also known as cognitive functioning.

Canadian researchers decided to investigate this further by carrying out an extensive review of studies on this topic. They found that among eight trials involving 329 people, exercise could improve cognitive functioning. They also found that among six trials involving 289 people, exercise improved the ability of those with dementia to fulfill daily activities, such as getting up from a chair and walking short distances.

The researchers had carried out a similar review in 2008, but at that time, there were only four trials to assess.

"In our previous review, we were unable to draw any conclusions about the effectiveness of exercise in older people with dementia, due to a shortage of appropriate trials. Following this new review, we are now able to conclude that there is promising evidence for exercise programmes improving cognition and the ability to carry out daily activities. However, we do still need to be cautious about how we interpret these findings," the researchers from the University of Alberta said.

They noted that they did not find any evidence that exercise had an effect on depression in older people with dementia. They were also unable to say whether exercise improved overall quality of life.

"Clearly, further research is needed to be able to develop best practice guidelines to enable healthcare providers to advise people with dementia living at home or in institutions. We also need to understand what level and intensity of exercise is beneficial for someone with dementia," the team added.

Details of these findings are published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013.

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