Volume 11, Issue 2 (April 2013)                   Iranian Rehabilitation Journal 2013, 11(2): 35-45 | Back to browse issues page

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1- Department of Physical Education, Khodabandeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khodabandeh, Iran.
2- Iranian Research Center on Ageing, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3- Sport Science Research Institute of Ministry of Science, Research and Technology of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
4- Department of Sport Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:   (6007 Views)

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of a selected exercise training on reducing symptoms of dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease in people with Down syndrome.

Methods: 27 men with Down syndrome were randomized to intervention (n=13) and control (n=13) groups. All persons in experimental group followed 12 weeks selected exercise training, three times a week. Prior to the start of the study, and after three-month training, each member in both groups was assessed according to the DSQIID questionnaire filled by caregivers of these peoples. Data were analysed by independent t-test.

Results: The results indicated that the first questionnaire subscales that assess memory disorders and confusion in the experimental group between pre and post test showed a significant decrease (P=0.028). Also in third part of questionnaire that asked about the individual skills, social withdrawal, physical symptoms and speech abnormalities, the variable scores in post-test of experimental group were significantly lower than pre-test scores (P=0.047).

Discussion: These result showed that the combination of selected exercises training could cause a significant reduction in the incidence of initial dementia symptoms and can be an important step to prevent of the dementia in these people.

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Article type: Original Research Articles |
Received: 2012/12/25 | Accepted: 2013/02/18 | Published: 2013/04/1

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