Best dance frequency to boost brain and physical health for people at risk for Alzheimer's
Establishing the optimal frequency of dance movement for neurocognitive and physical outcomes in people at risk of Alzheimer's disease
This project tests different weekly schedules of dance classes to see which helps thinking, balance, and fitness most in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11369080 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join supervised dance classes that differ in how many times per week they meet, with participants assigned to different frequency groups. The team will track changes in memory and thinking, balance and cardiorespiratory fitness, and brain health using standard tests and MRI scans over several months. Researchers will compare how quickly and how much these measures change to determine which dance schedule produces the largest benefits and to estimate needed sample sizes for a larger trial. The goal is to create a practical, evidence-based prescription for using dance to support brain and physical health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults (typically 65+) with risk factors for Alzheimer's who can safely participate in group dance sessions and attend in-person visits around Winston-Salem, NC.
Not a fit: People with advanced dementia, serious mobility or medical limitations that make dance unsafe, or those unable to attend the study site are unlikely to participate or benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to a specific, practical dance schedule that improves cognition, balance, and fitness for people at higher risk of Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller trials and epidemiological studies have reported benefits of dance for cognition, balance, and fitness, but the best weekly frequency remains untested.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hugenschmidt, Christina E — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Hugenschmidt, Christina E
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.