Impact of dance interventions on the symptoms of dementia: A mixed-methods systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: This mixed-methods systematic review determined the impact of dance interventions on symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) among persons living in residential care. METHODS: Seven databases (Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Ageline, and AMED) were searched. Studies published before June 2022 that investigated the impact of dance interventions on symptoms of ADRD were eligible for inclusion. Risk of bias was assessed using CASP, ROBINS-I, and ROB-2. Quantitative and qualitative objectives provided a convergent segregate narrative synthesis for the review. The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021220535). RESULTS: Two quantitative and two qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria. Dance interventions decreased levels of agitation and aggression, and improved behavioural and psychological symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Studies suggest that dance interventions reduce the symptoms of dementia through increased expression, emotions, and improved relationships for persons with ADRD. However, the small number of included studies limits these conclusions.

A Brief Report on Reviews of Existing Creative Art-Based Interventions in Dementia Care From 2010-2020.

The following brief report provides an overview of previously published reviews in the context of creative arts-based interventions for persons with dementia. A total of 22 review articles were identified and summarized. Next steps are suggested for future studies that may wish to a) develop a new review, or b) create new studies filling in the gaps identified by the authors in this report.