The primary objective of this project is to examine the impact of a strength training program with high cognitive demands on cognitive function, motor skills, physical fitness, and quality of life in individuals with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. This randomized controlled trial will involve participants for a total of five months. Initial two weeks will be for cognitive, physical fitness, quality of life, and specific biochemical profile evaluations, along with familiarization sessions with the exercise routine. The experimental group will then undertake a supervised strength training program twice a week for 16 weeks. The final two weeks will involve re-evaluations of all initial assessments. Participants will be randomized into a control group and an intervention group with a minimum of 17 individuals each. Stratification criteria for randomization include physical activity level, number of Alzheimer's disease-related risk factors, extent of brain damage based on MRI biomarkers, and clinical dementia rating scores.
Meet the criteria for early AD dementia (GDS 4) (according to the DSM-IV-TR and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria)
Have a score between 15 and 20 on the Mini-Mental State Examination scale (Trivedi, 2017), with criteria for moderate cognitive impairment.
Maintain a stable pharmacological regimen for at least 30 days prior.
Give consent to be evaluated using the cognitive screening tests described in this report.
Presence of heart disease or other diseases that lead to a contraindication in the practice of physical activity.
Presence of psychiatric illnesses.
Having some musculoskeletal pathology or alteration that does not allow the performance of the proposed exercises or proposed conditional evaluations.
Having a resting heart rate less than 50 or greater than 100 beats per minute.