The study was approved by the Human Research Ethics
Committee (Tasmania) Network and informed consent
was provided by all participants and/or their carers. The
use of a randomized control group, receiving usual treatment
only, raised ethical issues which were carefully
considered in the design of the study. Even though exercise
has not been established to be effective in the treatment
of Alzheimer’s disease, it is well accepted that it is
generally beneficial and it was considered unethical not to
offer all participants and their carers the opportunity to be
trained in the exercise programme. Accordingly, those
allocated to the control group were offered training in the
exercise programme at the conclusion of the study.