Adapted dance programs may offer a feasible and enjoyable physical activity option for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), according to a [pilot study](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13872877241298529) published in the _Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease_.
Researchers found that participants with ADRD successfully completed a 12-week adapted line dancing program, demonstrating both safety and consistent participation throughout the study period. The study included 16 participants (12 females, 4 males) aged 69-97 years with ADRD who were randomly assigned to either an adapted dance group or a usual care group. The adapted [dance group](https://www.mcknights.com/news/group-arts-programs-in-residential-care-show-strong-mental-health-benefits-for-older-adults-analysis-finds/) participated in simple line dance routines that were modified to meet individual abilities, while the usual care group engaged in social stimulation activities such as bingo and puzzles.
Dance participants received twice-weekly 60-minute sessions throughout the 12-week study period, with participants attending more than 90% of the dance sessions and engaged in active dancing for an average of 35 minutes per session. Notably, no falls or loss of balance occurred during the study period. Six of eight dance participants could recall dance movements from routines learned weeks earlier, which according to the study, suggests a potential cognitive memory component.
“It is important to design interventions that support joyful moments in the daily lives of people with ADRD,” the researchers explained. To this point, the researchers noted, “We observed all dance participants either smiling, laughing, giggling, and/or clapping during the dance sessions.”
While both groups showed improvements in agitation from baseline to 12 weeks, the study was underpowered to detect statistically significant differences between groups in measures of agitation, balance, gait, lower extremity strength and caregiver burden.
The researchers recommend that clinicians consider adapted dance as part of exercise prescriptions for persons with ADRD. Researchers also suggest that future studies explore increasing frequency to three times weekly for 30-minute sessions to align with recommended physical activity levels for this population.