http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnagi.2016.00026/full?
- 1School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
- 2Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- 3Centre for Research on Aging, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- 4Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, UK
- 5Early Start Research Institute, School of Education, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Background: A physically active lifestyle has
the potential to prevent cognitive decline and dementia, yet the optimal
type of physical activity/exercise remains unclear. Dance is of special
interest as it complex sensorimotor rhythmic activity with additional
cognitive, social, and affective dimensions.
Objectives: To determine whether dance benefits executive function more than walking, an activity that is simple and functional.
Methods: Two-arm randomized controlled trial
among community-dwelling older adults. The intervention group received 1
h of ballroom dancing twice weekly over 8 months (~69 sessions) in
local community dance studios. The control group received a combination
of a home walking program with a pedometer and optional biweekly
group-based walking in local community park to facilitate socialization.
Main outcomes: Executive function tests:
processing speed and task shift by the Trail Making Tests, response
inhibition by the Stroop Color-Word Test, working memory by the Digit
Span Backwards test, immediate and delayed verbal recall by the Rey
Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and visuospatial recall by the Brief
Visuospatial Memory Test (BVST).
Results: One hundred and fifteen adults (mean
69.5 years, SD 6.4) completed baseline and delayed baseline (3 weeks
apart) before being randomized to either dance (n = 60) or walking (n
= 55). Of those randomized, 79 (68%) completed the follow-up
measurements (32 weeks from baseline). In the dance group only,
“non-completers” had significantly lower baseline scores on all
executive function tests than those who completed the full program.
Intention-to-treat analyses showed no group effect. In a random effects
model including participants who completed all measurements, adjusted
for baseline score and covariates (age, education, estimated verbal
intelligence, and community), a between-group effect in favor of dance
was noted only for BVST total learning (Cohen’s D Effect size 0.29, p = 0.07) and delayed recall (Cohen’s D Effect size = 0.34, p = 0.06).
Conclusion: The superior potential of dance
over walking on executive functions of cognitively healthy and active
older adults was not supported. Dance improved one of the cognitive
domains (spatial memory) important for learning dance. Controlled trials
targeting inactive older adults and of a higher dose may produce
stronger effects, particularly for novice dancers.
Trial registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ACTRN12613000782730).
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