Conclusion
A six-month individualized, progressive, multicomponent physical exercise intervention is effective at maintaining cognitive function and decreasing perceptions of loneliness among nursing home residents. Blood levels of BDNF were not affected by the intervention.
Results
After six months, a group by time interaction in favor of the intervention group was observed on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), symbol search and De Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale (P < 0.05). The control group scored more poorly on the MOCA, WAIS-IV (coding and symbol search), verbal fluency, and semantic fluency tests after six months (P < 0.05) than they did at baseline. The intervention group showed poorer results on the coding test (P < 0.05). Loneliness perception was reduced in the intervention group (P < 0.05). No changes in serum BDNF were observed (group x time and within groups, P > 0.05).