Tango Dancing for Caregivers of Alzheimer's Patients

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Emory University

Disqualifiers: Non-African-American, Under 45, Over 65, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 20

Duration: 12 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether a dance program, specifically adapted tango dancing, can improve mood, cognition, and certain health markers in African American women caring for family members with Alzheimer's. Participants will either join dance sessions or attend educational lectures over 12 weeks. The trial seeks African American women who are family caregivers of someone with probable Alzheimer's. This opportunity may help manage stress and improve well-being while supporting a loved one.

As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique chance to contribute to research that could enhance caregiving experiences and personal health.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this dance-based intervention is safe for caregivers?

Research has shown that adapted tango dance is a safe activity for adults. Studies have found that participants in adapted tango programs often experience benefits such as improved memory and physical movement. Importantly, these studies did not identify any major safety issues or negative effects from the dance sessions.

Adapted tango, as a form of exercise, is generally well-tolerated. The emphasis on partner dancing makes it enjoyable, encouraging regular participation with minimal risk. Overall, adapted tango appears to be a safe and beneficial option for those considering joining a trial. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike standard treatments for stress relief and mental health support for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients, which often include medications or counseling, the adapted tango dance technique offers a unique, physically engaging approach. This method combines physical activity with social interaction and music, potentially enhancing mood and reducing stress more effectively and enjoyably. Researchers are excited because dance could bring a new dimension to caregiving support, emphasizing fun and connection while potentially improving both physical and emotional well-being.

What evidence suggests that adapted tango dance is effective for improving inflammatory biomarkers, cognition, and mood in caregivers of Alzheimer's patients?

Research shows that adapted tango dance, which participants in this trial may engage in, can improve memory, thinking skills, and mood. One study found that people who danced tango had better body awareness and improved memory. Tango also slowed the decline in skills needed for planning and decision-making. Another study found that tango improved walking speed and movement in older adults. Dance activities like tango can enhance the quality of life and social connections for people with dementia and their caregivers. Overall, evidence suggests that tango dance is a promising way to boost health and well-being. Meanwhile, participants in the educational control arm will attend educational lectures, serving as a comparison to assess the specific benefits of tango dancing. ^{1 3 4 5 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Madeleine Hackney

Principal Investigator

School Of Medicine, Emory University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for African American women aged 45-65 who are family caregivers of individuals with a 'probable AD' diagnosis from the Emory ADRC or Dr. Wharton's studies. It aims to help those at high risk for Alzheimer's disease.

Inclusion Criteria

Women family caregivers from the Emory ADRC and Dr. Wharton's studies of Alzheimer's disease (AD) caregivers

African-American

My parent was likely diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in either 20 improvisational, 90-minute adapted tango dance sessions or 20 educational lectures over a 12-week period

12 weeks

20 sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in inflammatory biomarkers, cognition, and mood

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Adapted Tango Dance
• Educational lectures

Trial Overview The study compares the effects of adapted Tango dance sessions against educational lectures on inflammation, cognition, and mood in participants to see which method better supports their well-being.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Adapted Tango Dance Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

20 improvisational, 90-minute adapted tango dance sessions over a 12-week period.

Group II: Educational Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will take part in at least 20 educational lectures offered twice per week over 12 weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Emory University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,735

Recruited

2,605,000+

US Department of Veterans Affairs

Collaborator

Trials

881

Recruited

502,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The pilot study of the IMOVE trial involved 10 dyads (people with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia and their caregivers) participating in an 8-week improvisational dance intervention, which showed promising increases in quality of life and balance.

Participants attended classes 96% of the time and reported feeling socially connected, while brain imaging indicated improvements in brain network characteristics, suggesting that dance may enhance cognitive and social engagement in individuals with dementia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improvisational Movement to Improve Quality of Life in Older Adults With Early-Stage Dementia: A Pilot Study. Thumuluri, D., Lyday, R., Babcock, P., et al.[2022]

A 16-week dance intervention significantly improved cognitive function, particularly memory performance, in older adults with cognitive impairment, while aerobic exercise did not show similar cognitive benefits.

Both dance and aerobic exercise led to a significant reduction in neuropsychiatric symptoms, indicating that both forms of physical activity can positively impact mental health in older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of dance and aerobic exercise on cognition and neuropsychiatric symptoms in sedentary older adults with cognitive impairment. Ayari, S., Abellard, A., Sakrani, S., et al.[2023]

In a pilot study involving 16 institutionalized older adults with Alzheimer's disease, the Biodanza intervention, which is a nonpharmacological dance movement therapy, significantly reduced agitation and neuropsychiatric behaviors.

The promising results suggest that Biodanza could be a beneficial therapeutic approach for improving the well-being of individuals with Alzheimer's, warranting further effectiveness studies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Biodanza as a Nonpharmacological Dance Movement-Based Treatment in Older People With Alzheimer's Disease: An Italian Pilot Study in 2 Tuscan Nursing Homes. Chiesi, F., Gori, E., Collini, F., et al.[2023]

An 84-year-old woman with multiple health issues, including Alzheimer's and a history of falls, participated in 24 Salsa dance therapy sessions over 12 weeks, leading to significant improvements in her balance, strength, and mobility.

After the therapy, she experienced only one fall during treatment with no injuries, and reported no falls six months later, suggesting that Salsa dance therapy may effectively reduce fall risk in older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of Salsa dance on balance, gait, and fall risk in a sedentary patient with Alzheimer's dementia, multiple comorbidities, and recurrent falls. Abreu, M., Hartley, G.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9616328/

A Pilot randomized clinical trial of adapted tango to improve ... Participants in tango demonstrated improvements in whole-body spatial cognition and short-term and working memory, and reduced deterioration of executive ...

2. bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-023-04342-x

Tango-therapy vs physical exercise in older people with ... Tango interventions proved effective in enhancing gait speed and in mitigating the decline in functional mobility and ADL skill capacities.

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-alzheimer-disease-8-2017-969a6

Tango Dancing for Caregivers of Alzheimer's Patients Research shows that dance interventions can improve quality of life, balance, and social engagement for people with dementia and their caregivers.

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7680307/

Study of the effects of adapted Tango and multidimensional ... The innovative topic is the use of adapted tango in our multimodal intervention: it seems to enhance physical-cognitive aspects because of the ...

5. journals.sagepub.com journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/13872877241298529

Impacts of adapted dance on mood and physical function ... Twelve weeks of adapted line dance was found acceptable by ADRD participants. Participants attended ≥90% of dance sessions and did not experience loss of ...

6. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03269149

Tango for Alzheimer's Disease Patients' Caregivers The goal of the project is to determine the extent to which indices of inflammatory biomarkers, cognition and mood, are influenced by a partnered, dance-based ...