How Physical Therapy Slows Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that damages brain cells, limits cognitive function, and over time, inhibits bodily functions. Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that usually develops with age, affecting 10% of Americans over age 65. Physical therapy can slow the progression of the disease and improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common forms of cognitive disabilities and accounts for 60 to 80% of all dementia cases. It is a chronic, degenerative condition in which patients gradually lose their memory and over time other bodily functions. Symptoms appear slowly beginning years before a diagnosis is made and worsen over time. Before the disease is diagnosed, microscopic changes take place in the brain including plaque formation, which damages cells and nerves that transmit information and direction to the rest of the body. Alzheimer’s disease normally affects the part of the brain responsible for learning and remembering new information.
Warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease include:
Memory changes and forgetfulness
Difficulty completing familiar tasks
Confusion about time and place
Trouble interpreting visual images and spatial relationships
Difficulty completing familiar and simple tasks
Decreased judgment about safety
Behavioral changes in mood and personality
Difficulty speaking, walking, or swallowing
While there is no way to reverse Alzheimer’s disease, there are ways to slow the worsening of symptoms and maintain physical health, including physical therapy.
How Can Physical Therapy Slow Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease?
Physical therapy can improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and slow the progression of the disease through a therapeutic exercise program. Physical therapists aim to improve Alzheimer’s patients’ quality of life and help them remain mobile, maintain functionality as long as possible, and reap the benefits of regular physical activity.
Research shows that physical activity enhances brain health, function, and memory; increases blood flow to the brain; and improves balance, endurance, flexibility, and muscle strength. Regular exercise can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in healthy older adults and delay decline in physical and cognitive function in those who do have the disease. In a 2009 meta-analysis, regular physical activity reduced the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 45%.
Studies consistently show that multi-component exercise (balance training, strength-training, and aerobic conditioning) is particularly effective in improving motor function and reducing the risk of falling in Alzheimer’s patients. Physical therapists provide just such a multi-component exercise program.
A physical therapy program for an Alzheimer’s patient includes:
Therapeutic exercise: walking, cycling on a stationary and/or recumbent bike, strength training, and aquatic therapy are all aspects of an exercise program. Exercise improves mobility, muscle tone and strength, and blood circulation.
Balance training: Specific exercises such as standing on one leg/with feet close together or walking on uneven surfaces train the patient to adjust and restore balance, reducing the risk of falling.
Manual therapy: Use of hands-on techniques on joints and soft tissue to improve range of motion and flexibility and reduce muscle tightness.
Assistance with daily activities: Physical therapists help patients improve coordination and practice daily activities by breaking down tasks into a step-by-step process.
Physical therapy slows symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease by:
Increasing mobility and strength through a comprehensive therapeutic exercise program
Improving balance and coordination through balance training and task-specific exercises
Slowing memory loss through physical activity, which improves blood flow to the brain. A study found that over one year, when individuals engaged in 40 minutes of physical activity four times a week, they experienced growth in the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for memory.
Decreasing aggression and improving mood through exercise. A study showed that one hour of physical therapy a week for 12 weeks led to drastic reductions in depression in Alzheimer’s patients. Another study found that Alzheimer’s disease patients who did physical therapy regularly over a 24-month period had fewer hospitalizations related to behavioral issues.
Alzheimer’s disease is a difficult, progressive disease for both the patient and their families. As physical therapists, we at Mangiarelli Rehabilitation are here to support you and your loved one as you navigate this condition, help slow symptoms of the disease, and improve your loved one’s overall fitness and quality of life.
