Music-based dance program to improve thinking and movement in older adults with mild cognitive impairment
A Pilot Study of Dance Intervention for Enhancing Executive Function and Physical Performance in Cognitively Impaired Older Adults
This program will try a music-based dance class to see if it improves thinking, balance, and walking in middle-aged and older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 55 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (New Taipei City, Taiwan) |
| Trial ID | NCT07105800 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This pilot interventional project enrolls about 50 middle-aged and older outpatients with mild cognitive impairment or related complaints and assigns them to a structured, music-based dance intervention or a control group. The intervention uses simple, repetitive dance routines with rhythmic music, partner-guided physical cues, and group interaction to combine cognitive and motor (dual-task) training. Primary outcomes focus on executive function tests and lower-limb physical performance such as gait and balance, with assessments before and after the intervention. The program is delivered in person at a hospital outpatient setting to test feasibility and preliminary efficacy.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 55 or older with subjective cognitive decline or mild behavioral impairment meeting the study cutoffs, who can follow instructions, stand unsupported or with an aid for at least 10 minutes, and walk at least 10 meters.
Not a fit: People younger than 55, with MoCA scores under 16, severe vision or hearing loss, psychiatric medication–related instability, or who cannot safely stand or walk 10 meters are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve executive function, gait, balance, and day-to-day independence for people with mild cognitive impairment.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller pilots and non-randomized programs using dance or rhythm-based dual-task training have reported promising improvements in cognition and mobility, but large randomized trials remain limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) with a score ≥5 on the SCD-Q9 questionnaire, or Mild Behavioral Impairment (MBI) with a score ≥7 on the MBI-Checklist, with symptoms persisting for more than three months. * Ability to follow instructions. * Ability to stand unsupported or with assistive devices for at least 10 minutes. * Ability to walk at least 10 meters, either unsupported or with assistive devices. Exclusion Criteria:-Age below 55 years. * Severe visual or hearing impairment. * Score \<16 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). * Emotional or anxiety symptoms caused by psychiatric medications that significantly impair the ability to perform study-related motor tasks.
Where this trial is running
New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital — New Taipei City, Taiwan, Taiwan (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Fen-Ling Kuo — Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University
- Study coordinator: Fen-Ling Kuo, Master
- Email: 08655@s.tmu.edu.tw
- Phone: +88622490088
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.