Journal of Alzheimers Disease & Parkinsonism
Open Access

Research Article

Effect of Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity Intervention on Improving Dementia Family Caregiver Physical Function: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Carol J Farran^1*, Caryn D Etkin², Amy Eisenstein³, Olimpia Paun⁴, Kumar B Rajan⁵, Cynthia M⁶, Judith J McCann⁷, Lisa L Barnes⁸, Raj C Shah⁹ and Denis A Evans⁵

¹Adult Health and Gerontological Nursing, Rush University Medical Center, 600 South Paulina, AAC Suite 1080, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

²American Joint Replacement Registry, 9400 West Higgins Road, Rosemont, IL, 60018, USA

³CJE Senior Life, 3003 W. Touhy Avenue, Chicago, IL 60645, USA

⁴Community, Systems and Mental Health Nursing, Rush University Medical Center, 600 South Paulina, AAC Suite 1080, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

⁵Department of Internal Medicine, Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Rush University Medical Center, 1645 West Jackson, Suite 675, Chicago, IL 60612, USA

⁶Department of Medical Affairs, Omada Health, Hoover Pavilion, Room N229, 211 Quarry Rd, Palo Alto, CA 95305-5705, USA

⁷Rush Institute for Healthy Aging and Adult Health and Gerontological Nursing, Rush University Medical Center, USA

⁸Neurological Sciences and Behavioral Sciences, Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 600 S. Paulina, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

⁹Department of Family Medicine and Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 600 S. Paulina, Suite 1022, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

*Corresponding Author:

Carol J Farran
Rush University College of Nursing
600 South Paulina, AAC Suite 1080
Chicago, IL 60612
Tel: 708-257-7603
Fax: 312-942-3287
E-mail: Carol_J_Farran@rush.edu

Received date June 20, 2016; Accepted date August 02, 2016; Published date August 09, 2016

Citation: Farran CJ, Etkin CD, Eisenstein A, Paun O, Rajan KB, et al. (2016) Effect of Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity Intervention on Improving Dementia Family Caregiver Physical Function: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism 6: 253. doi: 10.4172/2161-0460.1000253

Copyright: © 2016 Farran CJ, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Objective: Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) affect more than five million Americans and their family caregivers. Caregiving creates challenges, may contribute to decreased caregiver health and is associated with $9.7 billion of caregiver health care costs. The purpose of this 12 month randomized clinical trial (RCT) was to examine if the Enhancing Physical Activity Intervention (EPAI), a moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) treatment group, versus the Caregiver Skill Building Intervention (CSBI) control, would have greater: (1) MVPA adherence; and (2) physical function. Methods: Caregivers were randomly assigned to EPAI or CSBI (N=211). MVPA was assessed using a selfreport measure; and physical function was objectively assessed using two measures. Intention-to-treat analyses used descriptive, categorical and generalized estimating equations (GEE), with an exchangeable working correlation matrix and a log link, to examine main effects and interactions in change of MVPA and physical function over time. Results: At 12 months, EPAI significantly increased MVPA (p=<0.001) and number of steps (p=< .01); maintained stable caregiving hours and use of formal services; while CSBI increased hours of caregiving (p=<0.001) and used more formal services (p=<0.02). Qualitative physical function data indicated that approximately 50% of caregivers had difficulties completing physical function tests. Conclusion: The EPAI had a stronger 12 month effect on caregiver MVPA and physical function, as well as maintaining stability of caregiving hours and formal service use; while CSBI increased caregiving hours and use of formal services. A study limitation included greater EPAI versus CSBI attrition. Future directions are proposed for dementia family caregiver physical activity research.

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