Moving Towards a Medicine of Dance: A Scoping Review of Characteristics of Dance Interventions Targeting Older Adults and a Theoretical Framework

Article type: Review Article

Authors: Rice, Paige E.^a | Thumuluri, Deepthi^b | Barnstaple, Rebecca^c | Fanning, Jason^{a; b} | Laurita-Spanglet, Jessie^d | Soriano, Christina T.^e | Hugenschmidt, Christina E.^{b; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA | [b] Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA | [c] Department of Dance, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada | [d] Department of Theatre, University of Southern Maine, Gorham, ME, USA | [e] Department of Theatre and Dance, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Christina E. Hugenschmidt, PhD, J. Paul Sticht Center on Aging and Rehabilitation, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, 1 Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA. Tel.: +1 336 713 4190; E-mail: chugensc@wakehealth.edu.

Abstract: Background:Dance combines cultural and aesthetic elements with behaviors important for brain health, including physical activity, social engagement, and cognitive challenge. Therefore, dance could positively impact public health given the rapidly aging population, increasing incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and lack of uptake of exercise in many older adults. Despite a high volume of literature, existing literature does not support evidence-based guidelines for dance to support healthy aging. Objective:To conduct a scoping review of the dance intervention literature in older adults and provide information to facilitate a more consistent approach among scientists in designing dance interventions for older adults that stimulate physical and neurocognitive health adaptations. Methods:Study characteristics (sample size, population, study design, outcomes, intervention details) were ascertained from 112 separate studies of dance reported in 127 papers that reported outcomes important for brain health (cardiorespiratory fitness, balance and mobility, cognition, mood, and quality of life). Results:High heterogeneity across studies was evident. Class frequency ranged from < 1 to 5 classes per week, class length from 30–120 minutes, and intervention duration from 2 weeks to 18 months. Studies often did not randomize participants, had small (< 30) sample sizes, and used varied comparator conditions. Over 50 tests of cognition, 40 dance forms, and 30 tests of mobility were identified. Conclusions:Based on these results, important future directions are establishing common data elements, developing intervention mapping and mechanistic modeling, and testing dosing parameters to strengthen and focus trial design of future studies and generate evidence-based guidelines for dance.

Keywords: Aging, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiorespiratory fitness, cognition, health, physical fitness, physical function performance

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-230741

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-38, 2024