Correlations between Physical Activity Level, Quality of Life, and Cognitive Performance in Elderly Individuals Engaging in Multi-Year Dance Activities

Introduction It is well-acknowledged that cognitive and physical decline associated with aging can be prevented or reduced with the engagement in regular physical activity (PA). Dance activities combine cardiovascular, cognitive, and coordinative demands, providing a popular leisure PA among elderly. Tis study examined the correlations between quality of life (QoL), cognitive and physical performance, and PA level in older adults who participated in at least 10 years of amateur ballroom dancing. Methods The study was designed as an observational study. A sample of 20 (10 men; age range: 65 to 80 years; BMI: 26.3 ± 3.0 kg/m2) amateur senior dancers were compared with a sample of 18 (8 men; age range: 65 to 75 years; BMI: 25.5 ± 2.4 kg/m2) non-sedentary individuals (control group) following an adapted PA program. Quality of life and cognitive functioning assessment tools were administered: 36 Health Status Survey (SF-36v2), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq). Physical performance was measured with their preferred walking speed (PWS), and level of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was evaluated using a multi-sensor activity monitor. Results Participants presented a good SF-36v2 physical component and a very good mental component summary, a total MoCA score within the limits, and an average total CRIq score. Their PWS and daily MVPA were high. Differences neither in the three questionnaires nor in PWS and PA level were observed between groups. A significant, moderate, and positive correlation was found between PWS and SF-36v2 physical component summary score. Conclusion Ballroom dancing seems to allow elderly individuals to maintain good cognitive and physical abilities, QoL, an acceptable normal cognitive reserve, notable physical performance, and PA level to the same extent as an adapted PA program. Both types of PA seem to be able to contrast the mental and physical decline associated with aging.

[1]  C. Sforza,et al.  Associations between objectively measured physical activity levels and physical fitness and health-related quality of life in elderly women , 2018, Sport Sciences for Health.

[2]  F. Galetta,et al.  Lifestyle, Physical Activity and Cognitive Functions: the impact on the scores of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCa). , 2017, Archives italiennes de biologie.

[3]  A. Clifford,et al.  To dance or not to dance? A comparison of balance, physical fitness and quality of life in older Irish set dancers and age-matched controls. , 2016, Public health.

[4]  Remigiusz Sokołowski,et al.  Is the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test better suited than the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) detection among people aged over 60? Meta-analysis. , 2016, Psychiatria polska.

[5]  Regina Katzenschlager,et al.  Gait disorders in adults and the elderly , 2016, Wiener klinische Wochenschrift.

[6]  B. Godde,et al.  Senior Dance Experience, Cognitive Performance, and Brain Volume in Older Women , 2016, Neural plasticity.

[7]  A. Soto-Varela,et al.  Balance Disorders in the Elderly , 2016, The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology.

[8]  M. Manetti,et al.  Can practice of Dancesport as physical activity be associated with the concept of "successful aging"? , 2015, The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness.

[9]  Peter Martin,et al.  Defining successful aging: a tangible or elusive concept? , 2015, The Gerontologist.

[10]  Jorge Fernandes,et al.  Creative Dance Improves Physical Fitness and Life Satisfaction in Older Women , 2015, Research on aging.

[11]  L. Mayhew,et al.  Waist-to-Height Ratio Is More Predictive of Years of Life Lost than Body Mass Index , 2014, PloS one.

[12]  L. Ferrucci,et al.  Assessing the "physical cliff": detailed quantification of age-related differences in daily patterns of physical activity. , 2014, The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences.

[13]  F. Mora.  Successful brain aging: plasticity, environmental enrichment, and lifestyle , 2013, Dialogues in clinical neuroscience.

[14]  D. Mapelli,et al.  Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq): a new instrument for measuring cognitive reserve , 2013, Aging Clinical and Experimental Research.

[15]  N. Anokye,et al.  Physical activity and health related quality of life , 2012, BMC Public Health.

[16]  S. Studenski,et al.  Gait speed and survival in older adults. , 2011, JAMA.

[17]  H. Dinse,et al.  Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience Aging Neuroscience , 2022 .

[18]  A. Kilding,et al.  Physical benefits of dancing for healthy older adults: a review. , 2009, Journal of aging and physical activity.

[19]  A. King,et al.  Physical activity and public health in older adults: recommendation from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. , 2007, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[20]  B. Bloem,et al.  Why old people fall (and how to stop them) , 2007, Practical Neurology.

[21]  C. Holmes,et al.  The Montreal Cognitive Assessment: Validity and Utility in a Memory Clinic Setting , 2007, Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie.

[22]  R. Osborne,et al.  The SF36 Version 2: critical analyses of population weights, scoring algorithms and population norms , 2007, Quality of Life Research.

[23]  Joe Verghese,et al.  Cognitive and Mobility Profile of Older Social Dancers , 2006, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

[24]  Christine P. Dancey,et al.  Statistics Without Maths for Psychology: Using Spss for Windows , 2005 .

[25]  U. Ekelund,et al.  Reliability and validity of the combined heart rate and movement sensor Actiheart , 2005, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

[26]  Y. Stern.  What is cognitive reserve? Theory and research application of the reserve concept , 2002, Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.

[27]  I. Melzer,et al.  Age-Related Changes of Postural Control: Effect of Cognitive Tasks , 2001, Gerontology.

[28]  P. Kannus,et al.  Long‐Term Recreational Gymnastics, Estrogen Use, and Selected Risk Factors for Osteoporotic Fractures , 1999, Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

[29]  John E. Ware,et al.  SF-36 physical and mental health summary scales : a user's manual , 1994 .

[30]  C. McHorney,et al.  The MOS 36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36): II. Psychometric and Clinical Tests of Validity in Measuring Physical and Mental Health Constructs , 1993, Medical care.