An integrative review of exercise interventions among community‐dwelling adults with Alzheimer's disease

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Abstract
Aims: To synthesise the current research on exercise interventions and health‐related outcomes among community‐dwelling adults with Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods: Integrative review of the literature reporting exercise interventions among people with AD living in the communities.Results: Seventeen studies presented in 24 quantitative papers with 1,068 participants diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease were reviewed. The interventions varied in intervention programme characteristics (e.g. baseline assessments, type of exercise, exercise dose, outcome measurements). Among them, (a) 13 studies appeared beneficial to physical fitness in different areas; (b) 9 studies reported the effects on cognitive ability and two studies showed the positive effects; (c) 12 studies reported the participants' adherence, but only 2 studies reported the participants' adherence using attendance and training intensity.Conclusion: Exercise is proven to be effective in physical fitness among community‐dwelling patients with AD. Future studies should verify the effects on cognitive function and possible mechanisms of different exercise types using more sensitive and objective outcome measurements. Additionally, treatment fidelity, cost‐effectiveness and long‐term effects should be explored.Implication for practice: Exercise may be effective and feasible for community‐dwelling people with AD, but its effects on cognition need to be verified in the future. This review provided recommendations for assisting nurses and other clinicians in developing, implementing, and/or evaluating exercise interventions for patients with AD.

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