title: Cognitive Benefits of Social Dancing and Walking in Old Age: The Dancing Mind Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A physically active lifestyle has the potential to prevent cognitive decline and dementia, yet the optimal type of physical activity/exercise remains unclear. Dance is of special interest as it complex sensorimotor rhythmic activity with additional cognitive, social, and affective dimensions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether dance benefits executive function more than walking, an activity that is simple and functional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-arm randomized controlled trial among community-dwelling older adults. The intervention group received 1 h of ballroom dancing twice weekly over 8 months (~69 sessions) in local community dance studios. The control group received a combination of a home walking program with a pedometer and optional biweekly group-based walking in local community park to facilitate socialization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Executive function tests: processing speed and task shift by the Trail Making Tests, response inhibition by the Stroop Color-Word Test, working memory by the Digit Span Backwards test, immediate and delayed verbal recall by the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and visuospatial recall by the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVST).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and fifteen adults (mean 69.5 years, SD 6.4) completed baseline and delayed baseline (3 weeks apart) before being randomized to either dance (n = 60) or walking (n = 55). Of those randomized, 79 (68%) completed the follow-up measurements (32 weeks from baseline). In the dance group only, "non-completers" had significantly lower baseline scores on all executive function tests than those who completed the full program. Intention-to-treat analyses showed no group effect. In a random effects model including participants who completed all measurements, adjusted for baseline score and covariates (age, education, estimated verbal intelligence, and community), a between-group effect in favor of dance was noted only for BVST total learning (Cohen's D Effect size 0.29, p = 0.07) and delayed recall (Cohen's D Effect size = 0.34, p = 0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The superior potential of dance over walking on executive functions of cognitively healthy and active older adults was not supported. Dance improved one of the cognitive domains (spatial memory) important for learning dance. Controlled trials targeting inactive older adults and of a higher dose may produce stronger effects, particularly for novice dancers.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ACTRN12613000782730).
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University , Penrith, NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Dafna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Merom
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, University of Sydney , Sydney, NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grunseit
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Aging, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University , Canberra, ACT , Australia.
authors.forename: Ranmalee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eramudugolla
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London , London , UK.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jefferis
authors.affiliation: Early Start Research Institute, School of Education, University of Wollongong , Wollongong, NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Jade
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mcneill
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Aging, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University , Canberra, ACT , Australia.
authors.forename: Kaarin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Anstey
keywords: dance; executive functions; physical activity; physical function; walking