Effect of exercise on balance in persons with mild cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND: Individuals with definite cognitive impairment and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) show motor dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether exercise changes balance and whether the effects of exercise on balance are different in patients with MCI as compared to the control group. METHODS: Posturography was used to assess balance by measuring the mediolateral and anteroposterior sway distance and sway speed. After the baseline balance test (T1), subjects received exercise instruction. Follow-up balance tests were performed at 6 months (T2) and 12 months (T3). RESULTS: When comparing persons with MCI (n = 17) with control group (n = 12), four indices of posturography showed differences between groups (p < 0.05). Also, there were improvements in more indices between T1 and T3, rather than between T1 and T2, in both MCI and control groups (p < 0.05). After receiving guidance concerning exercises, the sway values at 12 months were lower than values at the 6-month follow-up (p < 0.05). However, this trend in the sway values did not show a difference between the groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Persons with MCI had poorer balance control ability as compared with normal healthy persons. More than one year of steady exercise can be helpful for the improvement of balance in both MCI and normal persons.