Associations Between Music and Dance Relationships, Rhythmic Proficiency, and Spatiotemporal Movement Modulation Ability in Adults with and without Mild Cognitive Impairment

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Slusarenko, Alexandra^{a; 1} | Rosenberg, Michael C.^{b; 1} | Kazanski, Meghan E.^c | McKay, J. Lucas^{d; e} | Emmery, Laura^f | Kesar, Trisha M.^g | Hackney, Madeleine E.^{c; h; i; j; *}

Affiliations: [a] College of Arts and Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA | [b] Department of Biomedical Engineering, Neuromechanics Laboratory, Emory University & Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA | [c] Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA | [d] Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA | [e] Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA | [f] Department of Music, Emory University College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA | [g] Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA | [h] Emory University School of Nursing, Atlanta, GA, USA | [i] Atlanta VA Center for Visual & Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta, GA, USA | [j] Birmingham/Atlanta VA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Atlanta, GA, USA

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Madeleine E. Hackney, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. Tel.: +1 314 412 4852; E-mail: mehackn@emory.edu.

Note: [1] These authors contributed equally to this work.

Abstract: Background:Personalized dance-based movement therapies may improve cognitive and motor function in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease. While age- and MCI-related deficits reduce individuals’ abilities to perform dance-like rhythmic movement sequences (RMS)—spatial and temporal modifications to movement—it remains unclear how individuals’ relationships to dance and music affect their ability to perform RMS. Objective:Characterize associations between RMS performance and music or dance relationships, as well as the ability to perceive rhythm and meter (rhythmic proficiency) in adults with and without MCI. Methods:We used wearable inertial sensors to evaluate the ability of 12 young adults (YA; age = 23.9±4.2 years; 9F), 26 older adults without MCI (OA; age = 68.1±8.5 years; 16F), and 18 adults with MCI (MCI; age = 70.8±6.2 years; 10F) to accurately perform spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal RMS. To quantify self-reported music and dance relationships and rhythmic proficiency, we developed Music (MRQ) and Dance Relationship Questionnaires (DRQ), and a rhythm assessment (RA), respectively. We correlated MRQ, DRQ, and RA scores against RMS performance for each group separately. Results:The OA and YA groups exhibited better MRQ and RA scores than the MCI group (p < 0.006). Better MRQ and RA scores were associated with better temporal RMS performance for only the YA and OA groups (r2 = 0.18–0.41; p < 0.045). DRQ scores were not associated with RMS performance in any group. Conclusions:Cognitive deficits in adults with MCI likely limit the extent to which music relationships or rhythmic proficiency improve the ability to perform temporal aspects of movements performed during dance-based therapies.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, dance, gait analysis, mild cognitive impairment, music, rehabilitation, rhythm, therapy

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-231453

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-20, 2024