Physical Activity to Patients With Dementia and Their Caregivers.

Methodology: Design: Clinical, multicentric and randomized trial. A simple random sampling to select 134 patients diagnosed with dementia will be carried out. After contacting their relatives, his/her participation in the trial will be requested. A basal assessment will be made and the participants will be assigned to control or intervention group (1:1). Variables: The main measure will be the assessment of PA (pedometer and 7-Day PAR) in patients and caregivers. In patients: ADAS-cog, functional degree and cardiovascular risk. In caregivers: cardiovascular risk, general health and quality of life.

INTERVENTION: For 3 months, participants will receive instructions to do PA with an adapted PA program. This program will be designed and applied by Primary Health Care professionals in patients with dementia and caregivers. The control group will receive regular care.

ANALYSIS: An intention-to-treat analysis will be carried out by comparing the observed differences between basal, 6 and 12 months measures. Change in the mean of daily steps assessed with the pedometer and 7-day PAR will If the main hypothesis is confirmed , it could be useful to improve the cardiovascular risk of all of them , as well as the cognitive state of patients with dementia..

Inclusion criteria

• patient with dementia residing in a home in the area of the health center.
• identification of family members, or friends (not professional caregiver), who provide most of the care to the PCD.
• completion of informed consent on the part of the caregiver (and PCD) where appropriate.
• the PCD does not take drugs that may negatively affect cognitive function during the period of intervention.

Exclusion criteria

• mental disorders due to diseases, medical or related substances (DSM-IV-TR).
• stages of dementia (6 or 7 GDS),
• Delirum.
• comorbidity that prevents performing the exercise program intervention: unstable heart disease, bedridden, need walkers or wheelchair, diseases significant stroke, bone and muscle disorders, major psychiatric, neurological or metabolic alterations.
• severe clinical events within the 6 months prior.
• on waiting list of surgical interventions or treatments that require a hospital stay, or forecast stays out of the capital more than 4 weeks during the intervention.
• the caregiver dissent to participate in the trial.
• participants who submit any psychological or general medical condition which in the opinion of the investigator may impede the fulfilment of the questionnaires in the Protocol
• participants who are participating at the time of the start of the study in a clinical trial or study with medications.