(P56) Dance Therapy for Dementia in Care Facilities: A Systematic Review

Introduction/

Objective: Dance therapy harnesses the inherently healing nature of dance for the development of interpersonal psychosocial and physical integration of the self. It is a commonly utilized non-pharmacologic treatment modality for older adults with dementia residing in care facilities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of dance therapy in this setting through systematic review.

Design/Methodology: Using the PRISMA systematic review protocol, PubMed was queried using search terms pertaining to dance therapy and dementia. Additional related records were identified in the process of retrieving records and citation searching. Review took place from October, 2022 through January, 2023. Qualitative studies, mixed methods studies, systematic reviews, non-randomized controlled trials, and randomized controlled trials taking place in residential care facilities were included. Studies that were not in English, lacked academic rigor, and did not focus solely on dance therapy for adults with dementia in care facilities were excluded.

Results: Of the 279 records identified, 8 met inclusion criteria and included one pilot study with subsequent randomized controlled trial, one non-randomized controlled trial, a qualitative study, and four master’s degree capstone theses. Quantitative results included a non-statistically significant increase in narrative speech, equivocal change in Mini Mental State Exam score, and statistically significant increases in both immediate memory recall and visuospatial planning. Qualitative observations were notable for improved verbal and non-verbal communication, feelings of self-efficacy, and social connectivity.

Conclusion/

Discussion: Dance therapy has great potential as a non-pharmacologic tool for adults with dementia in care facilities, though there remains a dearth of quantitative data. More studies are called for to further elucidate the degree of efficacy.