Older adults dancing their way to health: a systematic review of the effects of dance interventions on cognition, anxiety, and depression

Abstract Background Dance is a form of physical activity that is a complex sensorimotor rhythmic activity integrating multiple physical, cognitive, and social elements (Merom et al, 2013). Many studies have showed the benefits of physical activity on older adults; however, no studies have showed the impact of formal and traditional dance (salsa, bachata, and ballroom dancing) on older adults which makes this review unique. This systematic review (SR) will synthesize dance interventions that include formal and traditional dance and their influence on cognition, anxiety and/or depression. Method Our focus is on dance alone; or dance combined with other behavioral strategies (e.g., cognitive, or social program). Three reviewers screened titles, abstracts, full texts and completed data extraction. If disagreements occurred from screening, all reviewers would meet and vote on whether to include or exclude article. If disagreements occurred in data extraction, two extractors would discuss and agree upon a conclusion. If agreement was not met, a senior author would vote. Articles included were 1) published/peer‐reviewed 2) randomized controlled trials (RCT) of a dance intervention that contain at least one of our three outcomes 3) included only dance as a physical component and no other physical components. Participants were individuals cognitively unimpaired or with mild cognitive impairment aged 60 and over. Result Sixteen studies were included in the SR for qualitative review. Twelve articles examined cognition, one article examined depression, one article examined cognition, anxiety, and depression and two articles included cognition and depression. Our SR showed that dance interventions can potentially influence cognition. There were no changes in anxiety and although two of three articles examining depression showed significant effects, there is not enough evidence in literature to suggest that dance interventions can potentially influence anxiety and/or depression as there is a small number of articles that studied anxiety and/or depression. Conclusion While literature suggests dance interventions potentially influence cognition, depression, more dance interventions are needed on depression, anxiety, and overall mental health. It would also be interesting to examine/compare if different dances affect certain cognitive domains or mental health outcomes more than others.