NCT06731049

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Treadmill-Based Walking and Dual-Task Walking Training in Alzheimer's Disease

Comparison of the Effects of Treadmill-Based Walking and Dual-Task Walking Training on Activity and Cognition in Alzheimer's Disease

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 46 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 65 Years – 85 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative condition that affects both cognitive and motor functions, making daily life activities more challenging. Motor functions, especially walking and balance, begin to deteriorate early in the disease and progress in parallel with cognitive decline. Dual-task performance, which refers to the ability to perform both motor and cognitive tasks simultaneously, significantly decreases in individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Current studies suggest that dual-task exercises can improve both cognitive and motor functions. In this context, treadmill-based dual-task training emerges as a promising approach to mitigate the effects of Alzheimer's disease. The study hypothesizes that treadmill-based dual-task training will have more positive effects on motor and cognitive parameters compared to treadmill exercise alone in individuals with Alzheimer's disease. The main research question of this study is whether treadmill-based dual-task exercise training, designed with progressively more challenging cognitive and motor tasks and tailored to the individual, results in significant improvements in motor and cognitive parameters, as well as daily living activities and dual-task performance, compared to a group that only undergoes treadmill exercise.

Detailed description

The aim of this project is to investigate the effects of treadmill-based dual-task exercise training, which is individually designed and progressively challenging, on functional mobility, cognitive function, walking speed, balance, and dual-task performance in Alzheimer's disease. The results obtained from this training will be compared only to those of treadmill-based walking training. The goal of this project is to enhance the level of independence in daily life by improving cognitive and physical parameters related to body structure and function. In the study, for 8 weeks, the Treadmill-based Training Group will receive walking training on the treadmill twice a week, while the Dual-Task Treadmill-based Training Group will undergo dual-task walking training, which includes both motor and cognitive tasks on the treadmill. At the beginning and end of the 8-week training period, functional mobility, cognitive function, ability to perform activities of daily living, balance, walking speed, and dual-task performance will be measured.

Conditions

• Alzheimer' Disease
• Dementia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Treadmill-based Training Group	The walking speed will start at 75% of the walking speed calculated from the 10-meter Walk Test at normal walking pace, and the treadmill training will begin at this speed. Every two weeks, the speed will increase by 5%, and by the end of the 8th week, it will reach 100% of the normal walking speed. The aim of gradually increasing the walking speed is to progressively make the motor component of the exercise more challenging. Throughout the 8 weeks, a body weight support system will be used, and the support from the treadmill bar will be gradually reduced.
OTHER	Dual-Task Treadmill-based Training Group	In the Dual-Task Treadmill-based Training Group, the same walking training protocol as the Treadmill Training Group will be applied with added second tasks to create a dual-task walking protocol. The second tasks will consist of both cognitive and motor tasks. The difficulty of the tasks and the total duration of the dual-task training will be increased over time.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-08-01
• Primary completion: 2027-12-01
• Completion: 2027-12-01
• First posted: 2024-12-12
• Last updated: 2026-03-31

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)