An interventional study of Dance therapy in Dementia, sponsored by Centre Hospitalier Emile Roux. Recruiting at 2 sites in France. Open to participants aged 65 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-08-07.
Sponsored by Centre Hospitalier Emile Roux · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
It is estimated that the prevalence of dementia in France is 5% for people over 65 years of age and that this increases to 18% for people over 75 years of age. Behavioral disorders are frequent in patients with dementia and are the main cause of institutionalization, representing up to 50% of cases. Dementia syndromes can be translated into behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), which are defined as perceptual, mood or behavioral disorders. To date, there is no cure for dementia, but certain measures can be taken to reduce symptoms. The HAS suggests that physical exercise would reduce BPSD and could improve the ability to perform activities of daily living or slow down the cognitive decline of this type of patient. Indeed, several articles have highlighted the benefits of physical activity in demented patients. A meta-analysis has shown a significant decrease in BPSD via the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) score. Nevertheless, it is often observed that there is a difficulty in adhering to the program in very elderly population groups. Dance is a complete physical activity that integrates physical, cognitive and social elements. A meta-analysis has shown that dance has a significant effect on global cognition but also on neuroplasticity and physical functioning in patients with mental disorders. The music component of dance also has an effect on the behavioral problems of demented patients, stimulating language ability and social and emotional function.
However, at present, no study of good methodological quality has been able to demonstrate the effectiveness of dance-based physical activity for the treatment of dementia symptoms. As a result of these findings, the APAISE project was developed and should help slow the onset of BPSD in patients with dementia.
2,172 studies on the registry are indexed under Dementia; 540 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 180 is above the median of 83 across 1,629 interventional studies indexed under Dementia.
Browse Dementia studies →Centre Hospitalier Emile Roux is the lead sponsor of 20 studies on the registry; 15 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
4 months of dance workshop with a Professional dance teacher
Behavioral: Dance therapy
First, patients will have usual activities for 4 months and in a second time, they will have 4 months of dance class with a nurse previously trained by the dance teacher
Behavioral: Dance therapy
Patients will be randomized in 2 groups, experimental or control. The experimental group will have 4 months of dance therapy with a professional dancer and will then resume there usual activities. The control group will start with their usual activities in the nursing home for the first 4 months and then, they will have dance sessions with a nurse previously trained by the dancer.
Compare the effectiveness of adding biweekly dance class for 4 months on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in institutionalized older adults compared to usual care alone.
The primary endpoint was the overall score on the validated Neuropsychiatric Inventory questionnaire, completed by the health care teams. This questionnaire will be done at inclusion (day 0) and after 4 months of dance therapy for the experimental group or usual care alone for the control group.This questionnaire allows to highlight behavioral disorders in patients suffering from dementia according to 10 behavioral domains and 2 neurovegetative variables (sleep and appetite).
Time frame: 4 months
evolution of behavioral problems
Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI-ES) score
Time frame: - 8 and 12 months for the experimental group- 12 and 16 months for the control group
evaluation of cognitive functions
Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. The questionnaire consists of 30 items, and each correct answer is worth 1 point. The score must take into account the patient's age and level of education.
Time frame: - 4 months (for the 2 groups)- 8 and 12 months for the experimental group- 12 and 16 months for the control group
autonomy or degree of dependence
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) score. This questionnaire studies the autonomy or degree of dependence of institutionalized patients in carrying out practical activities of daily living: personal hygiene, dressing, going to the toilet, locomotion, continence, eating. It is made up of 6 items, and each item has 3 possible answers. Answers must correspond to the patient's abilities. A total score of 6 indicates maximum patient autonomy.
Time frame: - 4 months (for the 2 groups)- 8 and 12 months for the experimental group- 12 and 16 months for the control group
activity frequency of dementia patients
Activity and Affect Indicators of Quality of Life (AAIQOL) score This questionnaire contains 21 items: 15 items relating to patient activity and 6 items relating to patient affect. The questionnaire highlights decreases in the frequency of activity in institutionalized dementia patients, as well as increases in negative affect and decreases in positive affect, both of which are indicators of worsening dementia.
Time frame: - 4 months (for the 2 groups)- 8 and 12 months for the experimental group- 12 and 16 months for the control group
state of depression
short-Geriatric Depression Scale (short-GDS) score This questionnaire is used to assess depression in the elderly and demented. The short-GDS is a shortened version (15 items) of the GDS (30 items). Each item is answered with a yes or no. Depending on the answer, a value of 0 or 1 is assigned. A total score between 0 and 5 is considered normal, between 5 and 9 indicates probable depression, and a score greater than or equal to 10 almost always indicates the existence of depression.
Time frame: - 4 months (for the 2 groups)- 8 and 12 months for the experimental group- 12 and 16 months for the control group
minimal motor and postural possibilities
Test Moteur Minimum (TMM) score This simple clinical test can be used to assess the minimum motor and postural capabilities of frail elderly subjects. The test assesses postural skills and protective reactions of the upper and lower limbs. Scoring calls for an affirmative or negative response. Each response is assigned a score: if the response is in favor of preserved motor capacity, the score is 1, whereas the score is 0 if the response is in favor of abnormal motor aptitude. This results in an overall score out of 20. The 20 items are divided into 4 themes: - decubitus mobility; - sitting; - standing; - walking. Retropulsion is demonstrated in this test in the sitting, standing and walking positions.
Time frame: - 4 months (for the 2 groups)- 8 and 12 months for the experimental group- 12 and 16 months for the control group
collection of drugs
collected on the medical record : antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics and related hypnotics
Time frame: - 4 months (for the 2 groups)- 8 and 12 months for the experimental group- 12 and 16 months for the control group
program membership
Refusal rate for participation in dance workshops
Time frame: 12 months for the experimental group16 months for the control group
program membership
Rate of premature discharge or lost sight
Time frame: 12 months for the experimental group16 months for the control group
program membership
Number of sessions attended by patients.
Time frame: 12 months for the experimental group16 months for the control group
contribution of dance-based physical activity for trained caregivers
evaluated by : \- A satisfaction questionnaire
Time frame: 8, 12 and 16 months
contribution of dance-based physical activity for trained caregivers
evaluated by : \- Semi-structured interviews
Time frame: 8, 12 and 16 months
contribution of dance-based physical activity for trained caregivers
evaluated by : \- Number of sessions realised independently
Time frame: 8, 12 and 16 months
contribution of dance-based physical activity for trained caregivers
evaluated by : \- Number of patients attending sessions
Time frame: 8, 12 and 16 months
contribution of dance-based physical activity for trained caregivers
evaluated by : \- Frequency of sessions realised.
Time frame: 8, 12 and 16 months
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