Table 1.
Characteristics of the included randomized controlled trials.
| Study/Country | Severity of AD Age (Years) Total Sample Size Male (%) |
Diagnostic Criteria | Time/Frequency/ Duration/Intensity |
Intervention Protocol | Outcomes (Instrument) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experiment (Details) | Control | |||||
| Chang, 2015 [36] China |
Mild to moderate 70.5 n = 57 38.6% |
DSM-IV MMSE |
60–90 min/3 times/week 16 weeks 50–70% HRmax moderate |
aerobic exercise (cycling, walking) | usual medical treatment | global cognition (MMSE) ADL |
| de Oliveira Silva, 2019 [37] Brazil |
Mild 79.4 n = 27 40.7% |
DSM-IV | 60 min/2 times/week 12 weeks 80% HRmax moderate |
mixed exercises (treadmill, weight-lifting, balance exercises) | usual medical treatment | global cognition (MMSE) |
| de Souto Barreto, 2017 [38] France |
Mod to severe 87.5 n = 91 15.4% |
DSM-IV MMSE |
60 min/2 times/week 24 weeks moderate |
mixed exercises (walking, weight-lifting, coordination, balance exercises) | social activity | global cognition (MMSE) ADL |
| Fonte, 2019 [39] Italy |
Mild 79 n = 60 35% |
NINCDS-ADRDA | 90 min/3 times/week 24 weeks 70% HRmax moderate |
mixed exercises (cycling, walking, weight-lifting) | C1: cognitive treatment C2: usual medical treatment |
global cognition (ADAS-Cog) ADL |
| Hoffmann, 2016 [40] Denmark |
Mild 70.5 n = 200 56.5% |
NINCDS-ADRDA | 60 min/3 times/week 16 weeks 70-80% HRmax moderate-high |
mixed exercise (ergometer bicycle, cross-trainer, treadmill, strength training) | usual medical treatment | global cognition (MMSE) |
| Holthoff, 2015 [41] Germany |
Mild or moderate 71.5 n = 30 50% |
NINCDS-ADRDA | 30 min/3 times/week 12 weeks moderate |
mixed exercises (movement trainer, resistance training) | usual medical treatment | global cognition (MMSE) ADL |
| Kemoun, 2010 [42] France |
Moderate to severe 82 n = 31 26% |
DSM-IV MMSE |
60 min/3 times/week 15 weeks moderate |
mixed exercises (walking, equilibrium, stamina, ergocycle with the arms and the legs) | social activity | global cognition (ERFC) |
| Liu, 2017 [43] China |
Mild 70.5 n = 48 43.8% |
MRI MMSE |
40 min/3 times/week 12 weeks moderate |
aerobic exercise (aerobic gymnastics: rowing movement, kicking movement) | usual medical treatment | global cognition (MMSE) |
| Mu, 2016 [44] China |
Mild to moderate 73 n = 78 37.2% |
NINCDS-ADRDA MMSE |
60 min/3 tims/week 16 weeks Moderate |
aerobic exercise (brisk walking) |
usual medical treatment | global cognition (MMSE) ADL (Barthel Index) |
| Pedroso, 2018 [45] Brazil |
Mild to moderate 78.3 n = 57 24.6% |
DSM-IV | 60 min/3 times/week 12 weeks 60–75% HRmax Moderate |
mixed exercises (walking, stretching, jogging, climbing, and descending stairs) | C1: social activity C2: usual medical treatment |
global cognition (MMSE) |
| Venturelli, 2011 [46] Italy |
Severe 84 n = 24 0% |
DSM-IV MMSE |
>30 min/4 times/week 24 weeks moderate |
aerobic exercise (walking) |
social activity | global cognition (MMSE) |
| Venturelli, 2016 [47] Italy |
Moderate to severe 84 n = 40 30% |
DSM-IV MMSE |
60 min/5 times/week 3 months moderate |
aerobic exercise (walking) |
cognitive treatment | global cognition (MMSE) |
| Vreugdenhil, 2012 [48] Australia |
Mild 74 n = 40 (16/24) 40% |
NINCDS-ADRDA | >30 min/7 times/week 4 months |
mixed exercises (brisk walking, upper and lower body strength, balance training) |
usual medical treatment | global cognition (MMSE) ADL |
| Wang, W 2014 [49] China |
Mild to moderate 70.5 n = 54 38.9% |
NINCDS-ADRDA | 40 min/3tims/week 6 months Moderate 70% HRmax |
aerobic exercise (cycling) |
social activity | global cognition (MMSE) ADL |
| Wang, Y 2014 [50] China |
Mild to moderate 70.7 n = 39 33.3% |
NINCDS-ADRDA | 30 min/3 times/week 12 weeks 50% HR reserve |
aerobic exercise (cycling) |
usual medical treatment | global cognition (MMSE) ADL |
| Yang, 2015 [51] China |
Mild to moderate 72 n = 50 34% |
NINCDS-ADRDA MMSE |
40 min/3 times/week 12 weeks 70% HRmax |
aerobic exercise (cycling) |
health education | global cognition (MMSE) |
Note: Total sample size means total number of samples in one experimental study; Male%: the Male percentage in the total sample size; ADAS-Cog: Cognitive section of the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale; ADL: Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study–Activities of Daily Living Inventory; DSM-IV: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition; ERFC: Rapid Evaluation of Cognitive Function; HR: Heart Rate; MMSE: Mini-Mental State Examination; MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging; (NINCDS-ADRDA: National Institute of Neurological and Communication Disorders and Stroke–Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders Association.