A 12-week dance intervention to improve quality of life and depressive symptoms in institutionalized older adults: A multicenter pilot study PASAPAS.

INTRODUCTION Aging is associated with declines in physical and cognitive capacities, which become more pronounced after age 80. Institutionalization may further increase anxiety and depression. This pilot study assessed the feasibility and effects of a dance intervention on physical function, cognition, and mental health in institutionalized older adults with cognitive impairment.

Methods

The 170 older participants, with varying levels of disability (mean age: 83.7 ± 9.0 years), participated in a weekly 60-min dance intervention over 12 weeks. To assess the effectiveness of the intervention, functional, cognitive, and psychological evaluations were conducted before and three months after the program. Adherence was also assessed.

Results

After the intervention, depressive symptoms significantly decreased by 27% (1.1 vs. 0.8; p < 0.01). QoL also improved, with a 10% reduction in Nottingham Health Profile score (13.9 vs. 12.5; p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in functional outcomes (Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go, Mini Motor Test) or cognitive performance (Mini-Mental State Examination). Adherence reached 83%.

Discussion

Despite frailty and disability, institutionalized older adults demonstrated high adherence to the intervention. These findings suggest that a group-based dance program is a feasible intervention in nursing home settings and may be associated with provide meaningful benefits improvements on depression depressive symptoms and QoL in this non-controlled pilot study. Functional and cognitive capacities remained unchanged, potentially due to participants' frailty. Further studies are needed to determine whether greater intervention frequency could improve these outcomes.