Impact of Exercise on Cognitive Impairment in End-Stage Renal Disease

Impact of Exercise on Cognitive Impairment in End-Stage Renal Disease

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of 12 weeks of exercise on cognition in patients with end stage renal disease.

Patients with end stage renal disease have higher cognitive impairment than general population. They also have decreased physical and functional capacity. Exercise has shown to improve cognition in general population. This study will evaluate if exercise improves cognition in dialysis patients. It will also evaluate whether exercise affects performance in daily activities, mood or depression and inflammatory markers in the blood.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with ESRD on dialysis
• Age greater than 20 years
• Have means of transportation to and from the exercise session
• Speak English (as the neuropsychological tests will be performed in English)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Recent myocardial infarction (within 6 weeks), unstable angina, uncontrolled arrhythmias, congestive heart failure (> NYHA grade II)
• History of stroke in the last 2 months
• Active respiratory disease
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Severe uncontrolled diabetes
• Persistent predialysis hyperkalemia
• Active decompensated liver disease
• Symptomatic peripheral vascular disease
• Musculoskeletal abnormalities that will be prohibit their participation in the exercise program
• Health conditions needing frequent hospitalizations
• Other health conditions causing inability to follow exercise program correctly
• Unwillingness to participate in structured exercise program
• Current use of antipsychotics or anti-epileptics
• Inability to hear, read or write which will limit their ability to perform the cognitive tests