Predictors of short- and long-term adherence to a daily walking program in persons with Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE

To examine factors associated with adherence to a walking program in community-dwelling individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS

Data were analyzed for 66 participants with AD asked to walk 30 continuous minutes per day. Adherence data (number of days walked, minutes walked, days walked 30+ minutes) were obtained from daily logs. Predictor variables included age, spousal relationship, health limitations, depression, participant dementia severity and behavioral disturbance, and caregiver stress and dementia management style.

RESULTS

During week 1, participants significantly (P < .0001) increased number of days walked/week compared to baseline. However, walking frequency and duration declined over 6 months. Nonwalkers had higher behavioral disruption scores. Regression analyses indicated that participants who walked more were less depressed. Caregivers of walking participants tended to be spouses, and reported less stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Both participant and caregiver factors (participant behavioral disruption and depression; caregiver stress and spousal relationship) impacted whether community-dwelling individuals with AD adhered to a walking program.