A combination of daily physical exercise and protein-rich nutritional drinks may significantly reduce the need for care among people living with dementia, according to a novel study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Researchers found that participants who engaged in standing exercises and consumed supplemental protein experienced improvements in physical ability and were better able to perform everyday tasks independently after three months.
The study, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, retrospectively analyzed data from 102 individuals residing in eight nursing homes in the Stockholm area. Participants in the intervention group performed standing exercises multiple times daily and consumed one to two protein-enriched nutritional drinks each day. Researchers monitored the level of support needed by participants with activities such as hygiene, dressing, and mobility.
Whereas no overall differences were observed when analyzing all residents collectively, a distinct pattern emerged when results were categorized by ward type. In dementia-specific units, those who followed the exercise and nutrition program demonstrated improved functionality and required less care time compared to the control group. Specifically, the intervention group in dementia units required an average of 55 minutes of care per day, compared to 83 minutes for the control group, representing a statistically significant reduction.
“One possible explanation is that people in dementia units had better physical conditions for improving their functional ability and were therefore able to do more things themselves after the intervention,” explained Anders Wimo, a researcher at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society at Karolinska Institutet.
The research builds upon a previous study, known as OPEN, which demonstrated improvements in physical function, muscle mass, and nutritional status with the same intervention. This secondary analysis sought to determine the program’s impact on caregiver time, an indirect measure of resident independence.
The study was funded by the Gamla Tjänarinnor Foundation and Danone Nutricia Research, which provided the nutritional drinks used in the intervention. Though, researchers emphasized that Danone Nutricia Research did not participate in data collection or the final analysis of the results.
Researchers caution that the findings are secondary analyses and should be interpreted with some reservation. They similarly note the need for further investigation into the impact of the dietary and lifestyle intervention, alongside careful consideration of organizational factors such as staffing levels and work routines within care facilities.
Recent research has also explored other dietary factors related to dementia risk. Studies have indicated a potential link between higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids and a reduced risk of early-onset dementia, regardless of genetic predisposition. Conversely, other research suggests that obesity and high blood pressure may increase the risk of developing dementia. Danish researchers have also found that dietary nitrate from vegetables may lower dementia risk, while nitrate from other sources may increase it.
