Effects of Integrated Exercise on Sarcopenia, Depression Symptoms, and Quality of Life

October 9, 2024 updated by: Yu-Nu Wang, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology

Effects of Integrated Exercise on Sarcopenia, Depression Symptoms, and Quality of Life of Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Dementia

The goal of this quasi-experimental (nonrandomized intervention) study is to investigate the effects of an integrated exercise intervention on sarcopenia, depression symptoms, and quality of life in community-dwelling older adults with dementia. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  1. Does the integrated exercise intervention improve muscle mass and strength in older adults with dementia?
  2. How does the intervention affect the participants' depression symptoms?
  3. What changes occur in the quality of life of participants following the exercise program?

In this study, participants will:

  1. Be divided into two groups: an integrated exercise group and a control group.
  2. The intervention group will participate in a 12-week integrated exercise program consisting of strength training, aerobic exercise, stretching, and balance training, performed for 50 minutes at least three times a week.
  3. Assessments will be conducted before the intervention and after 12 weeks, including body composition analysis, grip strength measurement, physical function tests, and structured questionnaires evaluating demographics, depression symptoms, and quality of life.

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of integrated exercise in addressing sarcopenia, alleviating depression symptoms, and enhancing the quality of life among older adults with dementia. The findings may provide valuable insights for developing community-based exercise interventions for this population.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study explored the effects of an integrated exercise intervention on sarcopenia, depressive symptoms, and quality of life in community-dwelling older adults diagnosed with dementia. Sarcopenia, characterized by the loss of muscle mass and strength associated with aging, poses significant risks, including frailty, disability, and reduced quality of life, particularly among older adults.

Given the rising prevalence of dementia globally, addressing the effects of sarcopenia in this population was crucial. The proposed intervention involved a carefully structured exercise program tailored to enhance physical function and emotional health, incorporating elements of strength training, aerobic exercise, stretching, and balance activities.

Participants were recruited from outpatient neurological/dementia clinics and community centers in Taiwan, targeting individuals aged 65 and above. Selection was based on established eligibility criteria. Those assigned to the integrated exercise group engaged in a 12-week program, attending exercise sessions lasting 50 minutes at least three times per week. Meanwhile, the control group continued with their regular daily activities without any structured exercise regimen.

To assess the intervention's effectiveness, various outcome measures were utilized. These included evaluations of body composition, grip strength, and physical function, along with structured questionnaires to assess depressive symptoms and overall quality of life. Assessments took place at baseline and at the conclusion of the 12-week program, allowing for a comparison of pre- and post-intervention outcomes.

The findings from this study provided valuable insights into the role of structured physical activity in mitigating the effects of sarcopenia and enhancing mental health among older adults living with dementia. Ultimately, the results will inform the development of effective, community-based strategies aimed at improving the overall well-being of this vulnerable population.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

80

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Taiwan
      • Taichung, Taiwan, 433
        • Dementia Care Center, Tungs' Taichung Metroharbor Hospital
      • Taoyuan, Taiwan, 333
        • Taoyuan Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Older adults with dementia were eligible to enroll in the study if they met the following inclusion criteria: 1) age of 65 years or older, 2) diagnosed with dementia by a neurologist, 3) able to walk independently (with or without a cane), 4) having measurable grip strength on at least one hand, 5) and having a score on the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale ≤ 2.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals at risk of falling, unable to communicate or complete the sarcopenia test, under guardianship, any major psychiatric disorder, or any cognitive disability or impairment that prevented meaningful communication were excluded.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group
Participants in the intervention group engaged in a structured integrated exercise program designed to improve physical function and emotional well-being. The program lasted for 12 weeks, with sessions held three times a week. Each session lasted for 50 minutes and included a combination of strength training, aerobic exercises, stretching, and balance activities. The exercise regimen aimed to enhance muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, and overall quality of life, specifically targeting the symptoms of sarcopenia and depression.
Behavioral: Move Your Hands, Feet, and Brain: Integrated Exercise Intervention Based on Taipei City Elderly Physical Activity Guidelines

This video is tailored for fitness exercises for both healthy and sub-healthy elderly individuals and features various physical activity themes, including warm-up routines, balance and coordination drills, aerobic coordination exercises, strength training using chairs and water bottles, and cool-down routines. We selected a 3-month duration with sessions held three times a week to align with established effective intervention periods and to ensure participant adherence.

Integrated exercise sessions were conducted by the staff at the dementia care centers/service bases and lasted 50 minutes. Considering the impact of dementia and aging on the ability of older adults to engage in physical activities, the staff provided simple instructions, and participants performed the exercises while seated to prevent falls. Meanwhile, the control group continued with their usual treatment and daily activities.
No Intervention: Control Group
The control group continued with their usual treatment and daily activities.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Sarcopenia Improvement
Time Frame: Baseline Assessment: 0 weeks (Pre-intervention); Post-Intervention Assessment: 12 weeks (Post-intervention)
Participants were assessed for skeletal muscle mass, based on the skeletal muscle index (SMI), muscle strength, and physical performance using thresholds established by the AWGS to identify those with sarcopenia and group them as follows: possible sarcopenia (low muscle strength or low physical performance, only); sarcopenia (low SMI, and low muscle strength or low physical performance); and severe sarcopenia (low SMI, and low muscle strength, and low physical performance).
Baseline Assessment: 0 weeks (Pre-intervention); Post-Intervention Assessment: 12 weeks (Post-intervention)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Depression Symptoms
Time Frame: Baseline Assessment: 0 weeks (Pre-intervention); Post-Intervention Assessment: 12 weeks (Post-intervention)
We used the Chinese version of the 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), validated by Cheng & Chan (2005). This scale measures the frequency of depressive symptoms over the past week, with responses ranging from 0 (less than 1 day) to 3 (5-7 days). Total scores range from 0 to 60, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms.
Baseline Assessment: 0 weeks (Pre-intervention); Post-Intervention Assessment: 12 weeks (Post-intervention)
Quality of Life
Time Frame: Baseline Assessment: 0 weeks (Pre-intervention); Post-Intervention Assessment: 12 weeks (Post-intervention)
We used the Taiwan version of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) scale (Tseng, et al., 2003) to assess quality of life, which follows a norm-based scoring method (Ware et al., 1994) and Taiwan-specific algorithms. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better QoL.
Baseline Assessment: 0 weeks (Pre-intervention); Post-Intervention Assessment: 12 weeks (Post-intervention)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Chang Gung University of Science and Technology

Collaborators

Tungs' Taichung Metroharbor Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

September 22, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 3, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

June 3, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 9, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 9, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

October 15, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

October 15, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 9, 2024

Last Verified

October 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • ZRRPF3N0031
  • TTMHH-R1130034 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Tungs' Taichung Metroharbor Hospital)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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