You are already aware that Alzheimer's disease is associated with severe cognitive impairment and the eventual inability to live independently. Brain degradation can cause memory deficits, but did you know that muscle weakness and a resulting decline in mobility are also part of the symptomatic picture?
The link between muscle strength and Alzheimer's disease
As a person becomes less mobile, their muscle strength will usually decline due to a lack of use. This can easily explain the fact that patients with Alzheimer's disease will develop generalized muscle weakness as the disease progresses, but recent investigations have shown that muscle strength can begin to decline even in the early phases of the disease.
One of the most common manifestations of muscle weakness in patients who eventually develop Alzheimer's would be a weakening grip strength. Fading strength in the arms seems to be one of the first signs of Alzheimer's because these muscle groups are less thick compared to leg musculature — so patients will have more noticeable effects in their upper extremities compared to the lower ones earlier on. A person with Alzheimer's will have problems holding and grasping objects, and will frequently drop objects.
Unfortunately, numerous attempts have been made in medicine to try to quantify this risk or explain the deeper mechanisms, but confounding variables have limited a true connection between the musculature and Alzheimer's disease.
In one interesting study, patients with mild Alzheimer's disease were examined and their muscle mass and muscle strength were analyzed. Male patients generally would have more muscle mass, because their muscles weigh more compared to female subjects.
Although muscle mass is connected with muscle strength, having a high amount of muscle tissue does not necessarily mean you will have high muscle strength. In this study, it was determined that there was no relationship between the amount of muscle mass a patient had and their cognitive decline. The study did show that muscle strength was connected to lower cognition levels as the disease progressed. Muscle strength within the lower legs seemed to have the biggest connection to Alzheimer's.
In a different investigation, the link between muscle strength and cognitive decline was taken even further. In this study, 900 participants were followed for a few years and those who developed Alzheimer's disease were the study group. In this group, it was found that lower muscle strength leads to more rapid memory decline but also, increased muscle strength reduces the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Exercises that may be beneficial for people with Alzheimer's disease
Now that we have established that there is a link between muscle strength and memory decline, the next step would be to go over some options are to increase muscle strength.
Exercise is focus with this type of treatment, but buying a gym membership or beginning an intensive walking regime is not the solution to the problem. Patients with Alzheimer's are at risk of falls and an unsteady gait, so it is best to perform these types of exercises under the supervision of another individual. This chaperone does not need to be an exercise specialist and can just ensure that the person is able to exercise without distress and if a fall should happen, call for help.
Regardless of the supervision of the exercise, there is still always the risk of a potential fall which could complicate the situation of the patient once Alzheimer's disease has developed into a moderate state. As a result, it is best to perform the majority of the exercises in a supine position (lying down) in order to keep them controlled.
One exercise that can help improve core muscle strength and build up stability would be knee-to-chest hugs. In this exercise routine, a patient will lie on one side and bring their knees up to their chest. Increased abdominal muscle strength will help stabilize the lower core and leg strength.
Another easy exercise that any patient can perform is referred to as flamingo stands. As the name suggests, the idea of this exercise is to mimic the behavior of a flamingo and practice standing on one leg at a time. This can improve the power in the quadriceps and the calves.
Like any exercise, it is important to perform this type of exercise in the presence of a chair or table high enough to support the patient in the event of a sudden loss in balance. It is also wise to do a mild form of the exercise first just to help build up strength. Initially, a patient should spend no more than 15 seconds standing on a single leg before allowing the muscles a chance to rest. As you become more comfortable with this balancing routine, you can increase the time spent on each leg to keep increasing the strength.
As a final point, try to attempt this exercise on a softer surface. Wood or tile floors may become a potential source of increased injury so try to do this particular exercise on a carpeted floor or grass in a backyard. It will be much more forgiving should the patient stumble unexpectedly.
The last exercise worth mentioning is also very simple to do in the comfort of your living room. This exercise is aptly referred to as sitting-to-standing. As the name eludes to, a patient will begin in a seated position and then stand up. A simple exercise for an average person, this can become quite troublesome for a patient with any type of gait disturbance, especially one like Alzheimer's disease.
This exercise is perfect because it is done in a controlled setting — a patient who stumbles likely will just fall back into their chair without any additional harm. This exercise should be done at low intensity at the beginning of this training routine and as the patient becomes more and more comfortable with it, the number of repetitions can also be increased.
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