The Influences of Physical Activity on Patterns of Sleep Behavior of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

Literature indicates that patients with Alzheimer's disease often experience nocturnal confusions and difficulties. The list of interventions for sleep disorder is long and often convincingly ineffective. A light exercise program was set up for eleven patients who exercised each day for forty minutes. The sleeping behavior of these patients and another group of eleven who did not participate in the exercise program were documented. The results, contrary to genera beliefs, indicate that the most prevalent sleep behavior for both groups in the pre and post conditions was “sleeping soundly.” Findings also alluded to the importance of exercise for this cohort in reducing “restless” behavior. Those who participated in the exercise program manifested 40 percent less “restless” behavior, while those in the non-exercise group had an increase of 3 percent.