Abstract
In PD, cognitive impairments are seen in 40 to 80% of people, which affects their occupational performance. Studies indicate that dance has effects on cognition, thus this review was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of dance on cognition in PD. Seven studies were identified for review. Several dance forms were used, with tango the most common. Results suggest that dance can improve aspects of cognition, including memory, attention, and executive functions.
Primary Author and Speaker: Amruta Ulman
Additional Authors and Speakers: Nancy Baker, Jinali Thakker, Harshada Agawane, Saloni Solanki
Contributing Authors: Linda Tickle-Degnen
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by cardinal symptoms of resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity and gait dysfunction. In addition, approximately 40-80% of people with PD demonstrate cognitive impairments. Cognitive functions are essential for effective occupational performance. Occupational therapists should have knowledge about different interventions which help improve cognition in PD. Several studies suggest that dance can affect cognition. Therefore, this scoping review was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of dance on cognition in people with PD. Four databases were searched (CINAHL, Google Scholar, PubMed, PsychInfo) and articles from these databases were screened for eligibility, seven studies were identified for this scoping review. Our results show that different dance forms were used, including Tango, Bachata, Jazz, and Ballroom, with Tango the most common dance form. Eleven different outcome measures were used in the studies including Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson’s disease- Cognition (SCOPA- COG) and others, with MoCA being used most commonly. Improvements were seen on outcome measures in all studies, with 3 out of 7 seven studies showing statistical significance. The results suggest that dance can improve aspects of cognition, especially working memory, attention and executive functions in people with PD. None of the 7 studies examined if changes in cognitive functions improved daily function. Further research should examine the transference of cognitive improvements gained from dance to improvements in daily living skills.
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