NCT04362228

The Effects of Whole-body Exercise to Improve Swallowing Function in Older Adults With Dementia

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 9 (actual)
• Sponsor: McMaster University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Old Age; Dementia
• Swallowing Disorder
• Cough
• Parkinson Disease
• Neuro-Degenerative Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Whole-body exercise	10-week one-on-one, virtual, whole-body exercise class, 3x/week, focused on increasing respiratory rate through moderate-intensity aerobic exercises.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-05-01
• Primary completion: 2022-09-30
• Completion: 2022-09-30
• First posted: 2020-04-24
• Last updated: 2023-02-06

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada