Effects of seated Senior Dance® on cognitive functions in older adults with and without cognitive decline: a controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Objective To analyze the effects of Senior Dance® (SD) on cognitive aspects in older adults aged 60 to 85 years. Method Non-randomized controlled clinical trial consisting of two groups: (G1) institutionalized older adults with cognitive decline and (G2) non-institutionalized older adults without cognitive decline. Assessments were conducted using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (BCSB), and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). The SD sessions were conducted in a seated format, for 12 weeks, twice a week, with a duration of 60 minutes each. The Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon non-parametric tests were used for pre-intervention and post-intervention comparisons. Results G1 consisted of 15 older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia, while G2 consisted of 32 older adults. The Wilcoxon test showed a statistically significant difference (p value ≤0.050) in various cognitive domains assessed by the MMSE and BCSB in both groups. Specifically, significant improvements were observed in the domains of attention, calculation, and language in G1, as well as in language in G2, according to the MMSE. Additionally, significant changes were noted in the domains of incidental memory, recognition, and verbal fluency in G1, and in incidental memory, immediate memory, delayed memory, recognition, and clock drawing in G2, as assessed by the BCSB. Conclusion It is concluded that SD had positive impacts on the cognitive functions of participants in both groups, contributing to prevention and health promotion.