A Structured Physical Exercise Program Reduces Professional Caregiver’s Burden Caused by Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Acute Dementia Care: Randomized Controlled Trial Results

Article type: Short Communication

Authors: Fleiner, Tim^{a; b; *} | Dauth, Hannah^a | Zijlstra, Wiebren^b | Haussermann, Peter^a

Affiliations: [a] Department of Geriatric Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, LVR Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany | [b] Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Tim Fleiner, German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany. Tel.: +49 221 4982 6144; E-mail: t.fleiner@dshs-koeln.de.

Abstract:  Physical exercise is an effective treatment approach for neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), but it is unknown whether the reduction of NPS has an impact on professional caregiver’s burden. A randomized controlled trial in acute dementia care with N = 70 patients, n = 35 per group, was conducted. The intervention group (IG) received an exercise program, the control group a social stimulation program. The RM-ANOVA showed a significant group x time interaction with time effects for the IG and decreased caregiver burden due to the exercise program at follow-up. Physical exercise programs may not only be beneficial for the patients but also for their professional caregivers.

Keywords: dementia, hospital care, neuropsychiatric symptoms, professional caregiver’s burden, structured exercise

Keywords: DRKS00006740 (German Clinical Trial Register)

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-191102

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 74, no. 2, pp. 429-433, 2020