None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study is a single-blind randomized controlled pilot of a cognitively-enriched dance intervention called “We Think You can Dance!” for aged care facility residents with dementia. Residents will be randomly assigned to the dance program (n=8) or passive listening to a classical music and socialisation control group (n=8), for three 45-minute sessions a week for 16 weeks. Assessments will be conducted before, immediately and 2 months after the 16 week intervention period. We hypothesise that residents who participate in the dance group will improve in cognition, clinical assessment of change, agitation, physical function and activities of daily living relative to the control group.
Interventions
The treatment intervention will be delivered for 3 x 45 minute sessions a week for 16 weeks by a professional dancer/dance teacher.
Each small group session (n=8) of the We Think You Can Dance! program will have the following structure: 1) seated warm-up involving arms and hands, and foot and leg movements, 2) standing group dance combinations, 3) learning a sequence of choreographed movements partnering with the group leader or staff volunteer 4) cool down, 5) social dance. The program builds
The treatment intervention will be delivered for 3 x 45 minute sessions a week for 16 weeks by a professional dancer/dance teacher. Each small group session (n=8) of the We Think You Can Dance! program will have the following structure: 1) seated warm-up involving arms and hands, and foot and leg movements, 2) standing group dance combinations, 3) learning a sequence of choreographed movements partnering with the group leader or staff volunteer 4) cool down, 5) social dance. The program builds in complexity and range of movements over time, and has been designed to be achievable, fun and encourage social interactions.
Sponsors
Dr. Lee-Fay Low
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
50 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
50 years or older; dementia diagnosis (any type); able to walk three-meters unassisted (use of stick for security is allowable); not fully blind or deaf; English-speaking; not anticipated to leave the specified dementia unit in the residential facility in the next 6 months; Mini Mental State Examination score of 20 or less
Exclusion criteria
limited life expectancy; floridly psychotic; general practitioner advice against exercise; very high falls risk defined as not being able to stand unaided, plus a recent history of any significant or multiple falls (i.e. a fall that lead to hospital presentation, and/or two or more falls in the last month); exhibiting behaviour presenting a risk to study personnel; under public guardianship with no person responsible to consent on their behalf.
Outcome results
None listed