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Welp, looks like it's high time to put on your red shoes and dance the blues. Let's dance! - D (with help from Mr. Bowie)
Dance for health: The preliminary effects of a dance-intervention on cognition and hippocampal activation in patients with MS
ECTRIMS Online Library. Huiskamp M. Oct 25, 2017; 199868
Abstract: EP1848
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Therapy - symptomatic - 35 Enhancing CNS plasticity
Introduction: Previous studies on cognitive rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis (MS) are promising, both for cognitive training as well as exercise. Here, we examined the effect of a dance-intervention on cognition and hippocampal activation in MS patients.
Methods: Nineteen MS patients (mean age 44.53 years ± 8.52; 18 females) participated in a structured dance-intervention. Patients were eligible for participation if they met the criteria for mild cognitive impairment (i.e. a score between 1 and 2 SD below norm scores on at least one neuropsychological test or a score of ≥2 SD below norm scores on exactly one test), had no signs of depression and had an expanded disability status scale (EDSS) of ≤6.0. Patients followed two dance-sessions per week (one hour per session) for eight weeks. Before and after the dance-intervention neuropsychological testing (parallel versions) and structural and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning (episodic memory task) at 3T were performed. Subjective cognitive functioning was measured using the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire (MSNQ). Data were analyzed using Paired Sample T-tests.
Results: At follow-up, patients improved on tests for verbal learning and memory (Δscore=6.16;
p< 0.001), information processing speed (Δscore=3.74; p=0.017), attention (Δscore=5.17; p=0.033) and working memory (Δscore=1.47; p=0.039). The MSNQ score decreased with 3.84 points (p=0.035). On MRI, no structural changes were present, while increased activation of the ventral stream (including the hippocampal area) and frontal areas was observed. Decreased activation was seen in the occipital pole and lingual gyrus (all analyses were cluster-corrected, Z≥2.3, p≤0.05).
Conclusion: Our preliminary results show promising effects of a dance-intervention in MS patients. Improved cognitive functioning was observed, subjective cognitive complaints were reduced and brain/hippocampal activation changed significantly. We do however need to interpret these results with caution, since data collection of patients in the control condition is not yet finished.
Dance for health: The preliminary effects of a dance-intervention on cognition and hippocampal activation in patients with MS
ECTRIMS Online Library. Huiskamp M. Oct 25, 2017; 199868
Abstract: EP1848
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Therapy - symptomatic - 35 Enhancing CNS plasticity
Introduction: Previous studies on cognitive rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis (MS) are promising, both for cognitive training as well as exercise. Here, we examined the effect of a dance-intervention on cognition and hippocampal activation in MS patients.
Methods: Nineteen MS patients (mean age 44.53 years ± 8.52; 18 females) participated in a structured dance-intervention. Patients were eligible for participation if they met the criteria for mild cognitive impairment (i.e. a score between 1 and 2 SD below norm scores on at least one neuropsychological test or a score of ≥2 SD below norm scores on exactly one test), had no signs of depression and had an expanded disability status scale (EDSS) of ≤6.0. Patients followed two dance-sessions per week (one hour per session) for eight weeks. Before and after the dance-intervention neuropsychological testing (parallel versions) and structural and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning (episodic memory task) at 3T were performed. Subjective cognitive functioning was measured using the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire (MSNQ). Data were analyzed using Paired Sample T-tests.
Results: At follow-up, patients improved on tests for verbal learning and memory (Δscore=6.16;
p< 0.001), information processing speed (Δscore=3.74; p=0.017), attention (Δscore=5.17; p=0.033) and working memory (Δscore=1.47; p=0.039). The MSNQ score decreased with 3.84 points (p=0.035). On MRI, no structural changes were present, while increased activation of the ventral stream (including the hippocampal area) and frontal areas was observed. Decreased activation was seen in the occipital pole and lingual gyrus (all analyses were cluster-corrected, Z≥2.3, p≤0.05).
Conclusion: Our preliminary results show promising effects of a dance-intervention in MS patients. Improved cognitive functioning was observed, subjective cognitive complaints were reduced and brain/hippocampal activation changed significantly. We do however need to interpret these results with caution, since data collection of patients in the control condition is not yet finished.