Exercise Combined with Protein Drinks Enhances Function in Dementia Patients, Study Finds

A simple daily routine, standing exercises paired with protein-rich nutritional drinks, may help people with dementia regain a degree of independence. In a new study from Karolinska Institutet, researchers found that beyond improving physical strength, the program was linked to participants needing less assistance with everyday tasks after three months. The findings were published in Alzheimer's & Dementia.

Dementia is often accompanied by muscle weakness, poor nutrition, and frailty—especially among older adults living in nursing homes. These factors can gradually reduce a person’s ability to manage daily activities such as dressing, hygiene, and mobility. The research team wanted to examine whether improving physical health could also reduce dependence on care.

The study included 102 residents from eight nursing homes in the Stockholm area. Over 12 weeks, participants in the intervention group performed simple standing exercises several times a day and consumed one to two protein-enriched nutritional drinks daily. A control group continued with standard care. Researchers monitored physical performance and carefully recorded how much assistance each resident required for routine tasks. The analysis was conducted retrospectively as part of the broader OPEN study.

When all participants were analyzed together, the overall differences between groups were modest. However, a more detailed breakdown revealed a striking pattern. Among residents in dementia-specific wards, those who followed the exercise and nutrition program showed meaningful functional improvements.

One possible explanation is that residents in dementia units had sufficient baseline physical capacity to benefit from structured movement and improved nutrition. Strengthening muscles and enhancing nutritional status may have enabled them to carry out more daily activities independently.

The researchers caution that the findings are based on secondary analyses and should be interpreted carefully. They recommend future trials where care time is a primary outcome and where staffing and organizational factors are closely examined. Still, the study highlights how relatively simple, low-cost interventions could meaningfully improve quality of life for people living with dementia.

REFERENCE: Wimo, A., et al. (2026). Impact of an exercise and nutrition program on caregiver time with residents in institutional care—A secondary analysis. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. DOI: 10.1002/alz.71198. https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.71198