Effects of a Community-Based Structured Group Exercise Program on Cognitive and Physical Function among Older Adults with Dementia: A COGEX-D Randomized Controlled Trial

The COGEX-D Randomized Controlled Trial aims to assess the effects of a 12-week community-based structured group exercise program on cognitive and physical function among older adults with dementia. The study includes community-dwelling adults aged 60 years or older who have a clinically confirmed dementia diagnosis according to DSM criteria and an MMSE score between 10 and 24. Participants must also be able to sit on a chair and walk 10 feet independently. Those with severe neurological, psychiatric, cardiorespiratory, or musculoskeletal conditions that prevent safe participation in exercise, along with individuals with a history of cancer, major surgery, severe sensory impairments, or substance abuse, will be excluded. The trial features two groups: an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group will receive a 12-week intervention combining lifestyle education—focusing on diet, hydration, sleep, and healthy aging—with a structured group exercise program. This exercise regimen will include aerobic walking, strength training, stretching, and breathing exercises, with sessions occurring three times per week and led by a trained physiotherapist. The control group will follow the same lifestyle education but will not engage in the exercise program. Adherence to the program will be monitored, and cognitive and physical function will be assessed at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks using various tests, including the MMSE, Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-Revised, Senior Fitness Test, Berg Balance Scale, and the Timed Up and Go Test. The study will enroll 120 participants, with a total duration of 8 months, and the outcomes will provide valuable insight into the potential benefits of structured exercise on both cognitive and physical function in older adults with dementia.