THE EFFECT OF A PLANNED WALKING PROGRAM ON COMMUNICATION PERFORMANCE IN PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
Contributors: University of Miami.
Published: 1990
Number of pages: 147
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Gerontology.
Description: One of the effects of senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type (SDAT) is a dimunition in the ability to communicate. This loss continues throughout the later stages of the disease, often leaving the person virtually mute.

A two group experiment study was undertaken to determine if a planned walking program has the capacity to improve the communication performance of moderately to severely cognitively impaired patients with SDAT. Thirty subjects from two nursing homes meeting NINCDS-ADRDA diagnostic criteria for probable SDAT participated in the study. Treatment 1 subjects were provided with a 30 minute program of walking while engaging in everyday conversation with the investigator three times per week for a 10 week intervention period. Treatment 2 subjects received only the conversation intervention for 30 minutes, three times per week.

A multivariate analysis (MANOVA) was performed on the communication data. Analysis of the data at weeks 6 and 12 indicated that communication performance was significantly greater in the planned walking group than in the everyday conversation only group (Week 6 F = 4.28; df = 2,28; p =.024; Week 12: F = 4.29; df = 2,28; p =.024).

These results suggest that a planned walking program has the capacity to improve the communication performance of patients with SDAT. A model based upon current concepts in communication and neuroscience research suggests that the mechanism of plasticity might provide a physical basis for improvements in communication function.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-12, Section: B, page: 5807.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, 1990.

School code: 0125.