Swallowing impairment (dysphagia) is extremely common in older adults living with dementia due to age-related changes in swallowing and other disease-specific impairments. Dysphagia is commonly managed by modifying diet textures rather than engaging in rehabilitative swallowing therapy. This means that countless people with dementia are left to eat pureed foods and drink thickened liquids, which are unpalatable and lead to malnutrition. As the disease progresses, many are transferred to nursing homes. In Canada, speech-language pathologists, who manage dysphagia, are consultants within nursing homes; therefore, swallowing therapy is non-existent. However, exercise therapy is more commonly available. Rodent models have demonstrated that physical exercise strengthens tongue and vocal-fold musculature, which are critical components of swallowing. Therefore, it is possible that whole-body physical exercise, which increases rate of respiration, will help to strengthen swallowing-related musculature in older adults with dementia. In this study, older adults (65+) with early-stage dementia will complete a 12-week physical exercise program to determine improvement of swallowing function.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
9
10-week one-on-one, virtual, whole-body exercise class, 3x/week, focused on increasing respiratory rate through moderate-intensity aerobic exercises.
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Change in respiratory function from baseline to end of intervention
Measure via peak cough flow using a peak flow meter
Time frame: baseline, week 4, week 14 and week 16
Change in swallowing function from baseline to end of intervention
Measure via isometric tongue strength using an Iowa Oral Performance Instrument
Time frame: baseline, week 4, week 14 and week 16
Change in aerobic fitness from baseline to end of intervention
Measure via physical capacity using the 6-minute walk test
Time frame: baseline, week 4, week 14 and week 16
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