ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE IN ALZHEIMER’S DEMENTIA BY ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

The purpose of this research was to develop an intervention at the individual level manifested in an adaptedphysical activity program aimed at improving the quality of life of people with Alzheimer’s dementia, by preventingthe decline in ADL’s. Hypothesis: by creating and implementing a adapted physical activity program forinstitutionalized people with Alzheimer’s dementia for more than 3 months, we can minimize the decline in ADL’s ,thus resulting in improvement of fitness and development of self-control, reducing isolation and loneliness. Theselection was attended by a total of 36 persons with Alzheimer’s dementia out of which 18 people were admitted forstudy who were randomly divided into two groups. We monitored blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR), both at thebeginning of the program and during it, folowed by the assessment of functional status using the Bristol Activities ofDaily Living Scale. The study group participated in a program of adapted physical activities, besides medication andpsychotherapy, while the control group have only medication and psychotherapy. Study group achieved an overallimprovement in ADL’s with 1.45 points compared to the control group which had an involution of 1 point during thesix months period of treatment. The use of adapted physical activity programs can increase the degree of functionalindependence and implicit improving quality of life of people with Alzheimer's dementia, thus stimulating socialrelations.