None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Dementia is becoming a major medical and public health issue, as cognitive decline is one of the most prominent disabilities in old age. Older people undertaking more cognitive and physical activities have a lower risk of developing dementia. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether music and movement activities maintain or improve health and thinking abilities and if they are acceptable and suitable for older people who have some problems with their memory. Participants will be randomly assigned to participate in one of the following three activities for an hour over 12 continuous weeks: 1) method dance activity; 2) movement dance activity; 3) music appreciation (control). We hypothesize that method dance with a larger cognitive component will maintain or improve health and thinking abilities among older people with some memory problems more so than those in the music appreciation (control group) and movement dance activity. If such music and movement activities are successful and acceptable they could easily be widely disseminated to benefit the greater target population.
Interventions
Arm 1) Method Dance Activity [Ronnie Gardiner Method (RGM)], incorporates: music, rhythm, colour, language training, symbol recognition, coordination, endurance, attention, memory, and social interaction. The session involves symbols and words that represent up to 18 body movements, E.g., clapping hands with or without stamping feet, which are displayed on a screen. Participants will move in various sequences performed to music. Group sessions will be led by a RGM trained therapist and will tak
Arm 1) Method Dance Activity [Ronnie Gardiner Method (RGM)], incorporates: music, rhythm, colour, language training, symbol recognition, coordination, endurance, attention, memory, and social interaction. The session involves symbols and words that represent up to 18 body movements, E.g., clapping hands with or without stamping feet, which are displayed on a screen. Participants will move in various sequences performed to music. Group sessions will be led by a RGM trained therapist and will take place for an hour weekly over 12 continuous weeks. Adherence will be monitored using a register of attendance at each session. Arm 2) Movement dance activity focuses on moving to music, creative problem solving, improvisation, and play. Sessions will involve learning short dance sequences, making and performing short dance sequences and having fun. The emphasis is on process not product. Group sessions will be led by a trained dance instructor and will take place for an hour weekly over 12 continuous weeks. Adherence will be monitored using a register of attendance at each session.
Sponsors
The University of Auckland
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
65 years of age or older, living in the community in Auckland, New Zealand, subjective memory complaint or concern expressed by others, objective evidence of impaired memory [assessed by Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT)], or, presence of mild cognitive difficulties [assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)], or both, no evidence of functional impairment in daily life [assessed by Functional Abilities Questionnaire (FAQ)], can communicate in English
Exclusion criteria
Dementia present, Significant psychiatric history (e.g., Schizophrenia, Bipolar affective disorder), Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, Intellectual disability, known significant cerebral infarct (Stroke), Significant neurological condition (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, intracerebral tumor), blind or deaf, Heart attack in last 3 months, Significant alcohol / substance abuse / dependence
Outcome results
None listed